Hasui 巴水: Momoura, Ibaraki Prefecture

Artist: Kawase Hasui 巴水
Title: Momoura, Ibaraki Prefecture
Date: 1948

A farmhouse is cozily nestled between the fields and the lake (or river), three birds in the sky and no humans in sight. The late afternoon sun reflects a lovely color on the thatched roof and bright purple clouds levitate near the horizon. The light green on the branches of the bare tree indicate that this might be a springtime view, and the grass glows a very bright green. In regards to this specific location, in Ibaraki Prefecture, there is Laka Kasumigaura, the second largest lake in Japan. The Tone River also runs through it. Hasui often used place names that were local or colloquial, and this can make pinpointing a location on today’s maps a challenge. There is a place called Momoura, but that is near Ishinomaki, far away from Ibaraki, which is not far from Tokyo.

According to the late scholar Hisao Shimizu (personal communication), works that were sealed with “Ono Gintaro” generally have a very high printing quality, as the printer applied his seal to works that he was especially proud of. Note also that the title has been printed in romaji on bottom margin. First edition, with the round Watanabe seal that was in use after WWII in the lower left.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Some minor surface soil on upper margin. Dimensions: ôban (26.6 x 39.3 cm)
Publisher: Watanabe Shôzaburô
Literature: Narazaki #493; Hotei #512. See National Museum of Asian Art

Seal: Watanabe (postwar seal, as correct for 1st edition) and Ono Gintaro (printer)
Signature: Hasui

SKU: HAC512H