Details

Of the nearly 600 woodblock prints Hasui designed throughout his career, more than a hundred were postcard-size prints for the publisher S. Watanabe. These charming smaller prints were produced from re-workings of his larger prints as well as original designs created specifically for this smaller format.

Connoisseur's Note

Though smaller in scale, Hasui’s post card size prints represent the same meticulous care and craftsmanship of woodblock carving and printing as his larger works. These prints were quite successful in Hasui’s time and they continue to be, as the publisher Watanabe continues to produce them. There are no discernible means of identifying later versus earlier printings—none of the prints bear publisher seals. Of course one can make estimates based on paper and coloration, but those are educated guesses at best and the marketplace does not differentiate between these impressions.

These smaller works offer a wonderful opportunity to acquire original Hasui designs at attainable prices.