Hasui 川瀬巴水: Yumoto Spa, Nikko 日光湯元温泉 (Sold)

Artist: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Title: Yumoto Spa, Nikko 日光湯元温泉
Date: 1937

Evening has fallen, and the lights of the various onsen on the bank of Lake Yunoko are seen reflecting across the surface of the lake. The lights seem to beckon to a weary traveler, and we can easily guess that Hasui himself availed himself of a hot spring soak once this design was sketched. Hasui has placed a silhouetted tree branch with pinnate leaves in the foreground to give more depth and serve as almost a frame to the spa buildings.  The gently sloping mountains behind the onsen buildings fade into the evening sky. This work can almost be considered a kind of aizuri-e, although the yellow glow from the windows stands out in contrast and the color also has hints of purple. Yumoto is a small hot spring town that is part of Nikko National Park and is located next to Lake Yunoko (lit. “hot water lake”). First edition, with the Watanabe seal right corner that was used between 1930 and 1942. Scarce in this condition and edition.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. One spot in sky.
Dimensions: ôban (38 x 26 cm)
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Literature: Narazaki Muneshige, Kawase Hasui mokuhanga shu, 1979, p. 119, no. 360. Kendall H. Brown, Kawase Hasui: The complete woodblock prints, 2003, p. 500, no. 411.
Seal: Kawase
Signature: Hasui

SKU: HAS599