Hasui 巴水: Rain at Shinobazu Pond (Sold)

Artist: Kawase Hasui 巴水 (1883-1957)
Title: Rain at Shinobazu Pond
Series: Twenty Views of Tokyo
Date: 1929

Peaceful, pre-war view of the small, red temple dedicated to the goddess Benzaiten in Ueno Park. Our view is from the bank of Shinobazu Pond, with its  rainy-day-empty promenade and park benches, looking across towards the small island which holds the temple, and two women with colorful parasols on the low bridge. Although this shrine was destroyed during WWII and has since been rebuilt, this scene holds true even today, unlike most of these views of Tokyo from before the war. Although this work is completely unfaded, this seems to be the lighter version of this design. It is the opinion of this dealer that Watanabe probably requested the sky to be lightened to make the design somewhat more lighthearted and springlike.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban (26 x 38.4 cm)
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Literature: Hotei #162 (a?)
Seal: With the Watanabe seal right margin that was in use between 1932 and 1941.
Signature: Hasui

SKU: HAS592