Hasui 巴水: Yomei Gate, Nikkô (SOLD)

Artist: Kawase Hasui 巴水 (1883-1957)

Title: Yomei Gate, Nikkô  Date: April, 1930

Oblique view of the overwhelmingly splendid Yomeimon Gate at Nikko Toshogu Shrine, a National Treasure decorated with 240,000 sheets of gold leaf and hundreds of detailed carvings. The shrine dates from the early 17th century, and in 1636 the third shogun Iemitsu dedicated it to the Tokugaya Ieyasu, the first shogun of Edo Japan. Hasui has shown the shrine at what looks to be approaching dusk, as the shadows are deep on the cedar trees lined up behind the shrine, as well as on the feathery bough at left. Our eye is drawn to the shrine attendant, as his white overgarment shines with reflected light. Hasui has captured many details, including the stone lanterns and the stone steps.

This is one of six Hasui prints published by Tôkyo Shôbidô,  and the printing is of the highest caliber, reflecting the heights of talent available in the 1920s and 1930s. We also can see Hasui’s artistic genius in his ability to capture the perfect angle and crop it flawlessly for maximum effect. He also layered many elements of the landscape from back to front to create the feeling of depth in his designs. With deeper colors than the example shown in Hotei/Brown, including the purple in the clouds and in the trousers of the shrine attendant, the red on the temple itself and the trees in the background.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Excellent/very good condition. With a crease at top that is probably from the time of printing and a small spot in sky.

Dimensions: ôban (39 x 25.8 cm) Publisher: Tokyo Shôbidô
Literature: N#Ts-2; H#193. See National Museum of Asian Art.

Seal: Kawase  Signature: Hasui 

SKU: HAS658