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<b>AKASAKA BENKEI BASHI</b> / Kawase Hasui1931<b>SOLD</b></em>
ARTIST: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
TITLE: Akasaka Benkei Bashi
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1931
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 x 10 3/8 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Kendall H. Brown, Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, 2003, pl. 249
NOTE: Watanabe C-type seal, first state
SOLD
ARTIST: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
TITLE: Akasaka Benkei Bashi
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1931
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 x 10 3/8 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Kendall H. Brown, Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, 2003, pl. 249
NOTE: Watanabe C-type seal, first state
SOLD
ARTIST: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
TITLE: Akasaka Benkei Bashi
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1931
DIMENSIONS: 15 5/8 x 10 3/8 inches
CONDITION: No condition problems to note
LITERATURE: Kendall H. Brown, Kawase Hasui: The Complete Woodblock Prints, 2003, pl. 249
NOTE: Watanabe C-type seal, first state
SOLD
Details
This beautiful and contemplative scene is Hasui at his best, nudging the viewer to stop, like the people on the bridge, and take in the stunning view. The design is presented in a traditional Japanese aerial perspective, very close to the height of the bridge where the people congregate. In this design, Hasui is adamant at sharing the same vista that the evening strollers have at arm’s reach. Yet, from our perspective, the artist transforms the strollers into the rich landscape as the eye wanders past the wood structure and get lost in the soft misty spring atmosphere of this exquisite impression.
Connoisseur's Note
This impression is a rare variant of the design with a softer, more gentle coloration. The colors remain as vibrant as when the print was produced; note the intensity of reds, blues, and purples in their clothing. However, the overall impression is much more contemplative and moody than the popularized version.
