Details

In this evocative Hasui print, we are transported to a serene riverside scene captured in the quiet stillness of winter. Dominating the composition is a small boat, moored peacefully alongside a modest wooden dock, its presence accentuated by the pristine white snow that blankets the small vessel and the surrounding landscape. The river meanders gently, its waters leading the eye towards a larger body of water in the distance, shrouded in a veil of soft, wintry haze. Along the snowy shoreline, weathered grasses and trees stand against the cold, their stark silhouettes rendered in delicate detail against the tranquil gray backdrop. As snowflakes drift lazily from the sky, the scene is suffused with a sense of solitude and contemplation, with no sign of life save for the timeless beauty of nature itself.

Connoisseur's Note

The print bears the publisher’s “D-type” seal at the lower right margin, indicating it is a first-state. As such, it showcases the highest level of craftsmanship from Watanabe's workshop. Notice the skillful bokashi on the blue of the water and in the background sky, as well as the circular barren effects throughout the composition. The razor-sharp impression, combined with these printing embellishments, exemplifies the pinnacle of print production in 20th-century Japan.