Details

Cherry trees in full bloom climb upward toward the towering pagoda at Ueno, as the waxing moon rises far beyond their reach. Hasui is a master of encapsulating a moment of poetic drama in the quiet of a still scene. In this impression, the theatrics play out in the bright, vivid pinks set against the red of the pagoda, framed by the backdrop of a rapidly darkening blue evening sky. The masterful printing further highlights the vibrancy of the design, with fine bokashi color gradation and circular barren work throughout the sky as well as within the blossoms, giving the print a subtle atmospheric quality.

Connoisseur's Note

This post-war design bears the round 6mm Watanabe seal found on the first state impressions. The careful and subtle printing throughout the design pays testimony to its early production. This print's condition is exceedingly fine, as it was neither framed nor exposed to light for prolonged periods. The colors are in a pristine state of preservation and appear as fresh and vibrant as the day the work was executed.