<b>MOONRISE AT NEZU GONGEN SHRINE</b> / Shiro Kasamatsu1932<B>SOLD</B></em>
ARTIST: Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991)
TITLE: Moonrise at Nezu Gongen Shrine
MEDIUM: Woodblock
DATE: 1932
DIMENSIONS: 15 3/8 x 10 ½ inches
CONDITION: No problems to note
LITERATURE: Chris Uhlenbeck, Amy Reigle Newland and Maureen de Vries, Waves of Renewal: Modern Japanese Prints, 1900-1960, Selections from the Nihon no hanga Collection, 2016, p. 271
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SOLD
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Details
Shiro was among the first artists to work with Watanabe, producing his first four designs with the founder of the Shin Hanga movement in 1919, and adding one more design in 1920. He resumed print design work in the 1930s, creating works for Watanabe as well as other publishers. In the 1950s, Shiro became interested in the intricate process of woodblock carving and printing and began producing Sosaku Hanga-inspired work until his death.
A full moon hangs just above the temple roof. The mist of early evening rises while the colors of day deepen to the rich hues of twilight, signaling the end of the visitors’ stay. Watanabe’s expert craftsmen imbue the work with a magical sense of light and shadow and provide Shiro’s design texture and a strong atmospheric effect that is common in the most iconic of works in Japanese prints.
Connoisseur's Note
This exceptional impression bears the Watanabe D-type seal, signifying the work is a true first state. This print has never been framed, exhibiting colors as fresh as the day they were printed. The colors and impression of this design are a time capsule—collectors, take note, this is how this design should look!