Hasui Japanese Woodblock Print Lake Kawaguchi Mt Fuji

Title: 河口湖

Kawaguchi Ko [pronunciation in Japanese]

Lake Kawaguchi

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Date (original issuing): 1932 [dated May of the 7th year of Showa on right margin]

Date (this particular edition): 1946-55 Hasui early Life-time edition bearing the distinctive Doi copyright D seal and Harada/Ito [carver/printer] seal firm [see the cited references for details]

Medium: Original Japanese Woodblock on high quality mulberry (rice)

Color: Multiple printed colors

Dimension: image (16.5 x 36.2 cm or 6 1/2 x 14 1/4 inch), paper (19.4 x 41 cm or 7 5/8 x 16 1/8 inch)

Credits: Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水original artist), Harada (ハラダ carver), Ito (ィトウprinter),Doi Teiichi (土井貞一  Publisher)

Special Attributes: Artist block signed [as 巴水 Hasui] with his personal seal in red at bottom right, titled [as translated above] and dated [as 昭和七年五月作or created in May of 1932] in right margin, with publisher’s copyright and credits for carver and printer on left margin and the circular Doi watermark on top left corner.

Condition:

    This beautiful Hasui Woodblock print is in excellent condition [i.e., clear and pristine image, strong and bright paper, crispy title and credit lines, vivid colors, original full margins [with deckle edges at top and left], and slight but even age toning]. It was printed on high quality mulberry (rice) paper. The print is nearly flawless with some minor stains on backside as shown by the detailed photos. The small ink smear along the edge of right margin and corner is as issued for plate registration and should not be viewed as a defect. Ample photos [front, back, details, and the watermark] in high resolution are provided for your convenience of identification and judging its excellent quality independently.

Description:

     Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水1883 – 1957) was a highly skilled Japanese artist and one of the best-known members of Shin Hanga movement. This relatively rare print was first published in May of 1932. Bearing the particular publisher/carver/printer combination on the left margin, it is thus an early Hasui life-time edition produced between 1946 – 1955. Although the carver was credited Katsumura for the first edition, it is apparent that the same woodblock plates [not a re-cut] were utilized. It depicted a very nice view of Mt Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi [one of the most popular tourist spot around Mt. Fuji] with a sailboat and pine tree in the foreground.

      Please note the very low starting price [e.g., trading at far above > $400 for the same item of lesser quality] with no reserve for this very nice and highly displayable collector’s item [especially in such nice condition]. Thanks for looking and Happy Bidding!

      Note that this item [and our other antique maps and prints] is absolutely and unconditionally guaranteed [with full 100% money back including shipping / handling and your return postage and with no-question-asked return policy] to be authentic and original [i.e., not a later copy or reproduction] and as described]. Please take a look at our other related maps/prints items on eBay store or auction format.

Reference:

Brown KH et al. (2003) Kawase Hasui The Complete Woodblock Prints. Hotei Publishers (Amsterdam), Plate # 279

Ukiyoe Gallery (on the web) The Doi Publishing House Seals [D seal]

ShinHanga.net (on the web) Doi Seals [Harada-Ito #1]