Hasui 巴水: Baishinji Beach, Iyo 伊予梅津寺の浜

Artist: Kawase Hasui 川瀬巴水 (1883-1957)
Title: Baishinji Beach, Iyo 伊予梅津寺の浜  Date: 1950

A single small boat with a tiny sail captures our focus in the center of this composition. More than half of the design is filled with rocks, of hues that range from almost peach to brown in color. We feel far away from civilization, but on the far shore to the left we see a row of houses peeking out, almost looking like rocks themselves. These three distinctive, small, rocky islets must be Shijima, also called Turner Island, located offshore from the beach. Baishinji is now part of the city of Matsuyama and is located in Ehime prefecture on Shikoku island. In one of his essays (online, in Japanese, from May 31, 2022) the curator of the Ota City Folk Museum noted that in May of 1948, Hasui sketched  views of Baishinji and Shijima.  In the essay, Hasui’s diary entries for each part of his sketching trips are detailed, and Hasui wrote about the many places he visited, as well as detailing many of the meals that he enjoyed, as well as visits to hot springs. We can feel Hasui’s joy and ease in traveling and capturing views of so many places in Japan that he found compelling.

With the round postwar Watanabe seal in red, lower left that is consistent with a first edition print that was printed during the artist’s lifetime.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Mint. 
Dimensions: ôban (26.8 x 39 cm)
Publisher: Watanabe Shôzaburô
Literature: See Art Institute of Chicago, VMFA collections online. Hotei# 549, Narazaki #522.  Seal: Kawase Signature: Hasui

SKU: HAS665