Details

This Hasui design is a rare glimpse of Tokyo as the artist encountered it. The vast majority of Hasui's body of work is nostalgic scenes of a bygone era. What we encounter here is a skyline with western-style architecture and a pond reflecting the stark electric light of modern Tokyo, not the warmer glow from lanterns of the past.  

Connoisseur's Note

Hasui produced a handful of designs with a couple of publishers other than Watanabe, in this instance, Doi Hangaten. It's thought provoking to consider how much influence Watanabe may have had on Hasui as it relates to his choice of subject. It may be no coincidence that Hasui elected to illustrate a contemporary view of Tokyo for Doi--perhaps it might not have been much of a choice in Watanabe's shop.  Hasui's Doi work was produced in much less quantity than his Watanabe impressions. Perhaps Watanabe's distribution channels were more developed and vast. Whatever the case, this early post-war impression by is quite scarce and is rarely seen in the market place, particularly in this state of preservation. Given the rarity of the subject and its pristine condition at an obtainable price, this print is an outstanding acquisition!