Hasui 巴水: Ushibori in Snow 牛堀 (Sold)

Artist: Kawase Hasui
Title: Ushibori
Date: 1930 (Showa 5)

A sublime snow scene composed entirely in shades of blue, only the yellow light from one house adding a soft splash of color. The ferry boatman is steering directly towards this beacon, a scene of utter tranquility. This work bears the earliest Watanabe seal for this design, with the seal right margin that was in use between 1928 and 1932. Narazaki wrote: “In this winter scene in a lonely riverside district, a ferryman rows towards the opposite bank during a blizzard with a sole passenger on board. The mood of this scene is expressed through the aizuri-e technique.” This poetic work is reminiscent of Hiroshige's and Eisen’s famous 19th century aizuri-e works, done completely in shades of blue. To this dealer it is a masterpiece, one of Hasui’s finest snow scenes, and perhaps his only aizuri-e composition. Scarce.

SKU: HAC210H