Hasui 川瀬巴水: Spring Evening at Inokashira Park 井の頭の春の夜 (Sold)

Artist: Kawase Hasui 川瀬巴水
Title: Spring Evening at Inokashira Park  井の頭の春の夜
Date: 4/1931 Shôwa rokunen shigatsu saku

Cherry blossoms bloom along the riverfront in Inokashira, glowing softly beneath a full spring moon. The reflections on the water are as entrancing as the scene on land.  Narazaki writes: “The two versions of this image exhibit differing expressions of the pale moon... The publisher Watanabe Shôzaburô accompanied Hasui when the artist sketched this view, and apparently Hasui worked a great deal on it.” As explained by Hisao Shimizu to this dealer in person, this version contains an extra pink block, which adds depth to the other colors.  Note also the soft green in the water. The Watanabe seal in the right margin was in use between 1932 and 1941. With the “Made in Japan” seal, verso, which was applied in the 1920s and 30s. Provenance: From the personal collection of the late Hasui scholar Hisao Shimizu, former curator of the Folk Museum of Ota City. This exact print is shown full-page in the 2013 Japanese catalog “The Art of Kawase Hasui’ (Tokyo Bijutsu), page 84.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban (39.2 x 26 cm)
Publisher: Watanabe Shôzaburô
Literature: Narasaki 324; Hotei #250. See LACMA, MFA, VMFA online and “The Art of Kawase Hasui’ (Tokyo Bijutsu), 2013, page 84.
Seal: Kawase
Signature: Hasui with Kawase seal

SKU: HAC250H