<b>MIYAZU IN TANGO DISTRICT</b> / Kawase Hasui1921<b>SOLD</b></em>

Details

Perhaps above all other designs, Hasui is most remembered for his snow scenes. This early and rare pre-earthquake impression certainly attests to this legacy. This idyllic image is the artist at his best, showing us a scene of bygone Japan, much like the lone figure in the design disappearing into the snowy background. There is, however, a touch of modernity as the electrical poles line the weary traveler’s path.

Connoisseur's Note

Of all printmaking techniques, woodblock prints are best able to represent the varying atmospheric qualities of the weather. Hasui certainly exploits this advantage and awards the viewer with wonderfully articulated snow scenes, such as this one. The gray sky neatly contrasts the white snow as it falls onto the mountainous background and the rooftops and streets in the foreground. This spellbinding scene attests to there being no better artist at snow scenes than Hasui and why these scenes are the most sought-after within his body of work.

As with all pre-earthquake prints, this design is among the rarest works in Shin Hanga, as the earthquake destroyed Watanabe’s studio along with the original blocks and unsold inventory. Only prints sold before the earthquake and removed from Tokyo, as most of the city was destroyed by the ensuing fires, survived. This is an exceedingly rare opportunity to own a stunning Hasui design with fresh and vivid colors in its original state.