Hasui Kawase, "Snow at Ushibori"

Ushibori is a scenic waterfront town located in Ibaraki Prefecture. In this exceptionally rare first-edition printing, Hasui Kawase portrays a solitary boatman guiding his craft toward a warmly lit house along the snowy shore, the dwelling serving as a beacon in the winter dusk. The composition is suffused with a resplendent range of blues, creating an atmosphere of remarkable depth and tranquility that distinguishes the work within Hasui’s oeuvre. A rare, first edition printing acquired from a prominent Japanese collection of shin-hanga.

Date: 1930
Size: Oban
First edition (seal A)
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Condition: Light mat burn, otherwise in fine/excellent color and condition
Frame Shown: 16" x 24" x 1/2", Classic Wood, Ebony

Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) is one of Japan's most important artists to emerge from the shin-hanga era. His prints are recognized throughout the world, with many of his woodblock prints elevating to icons of art and design.