Hasui, Kawase (1883 – 1957), “Nara Park”

Notes: Was carefully preserved in the original 1953 Calendar for the Pacific Transport Lines. Twelve prints were commissioned by the Pacific Transport Lines for their 1953 calendar. This design represented the month of October. RARE; coming from a small edition of only 500 examples. Many were discarded once the calendar year was over. "Narazaki explains that 500 examples of this calendar were commissioned by the Pacific transport lines for distribution in the United States and that it was created within the time-honoured tradition of meisho-e (pictures of famous views"). He adds that while Hasui did not ordinarily undertake this type of work, the artist seems to have become quite engrossed in this project in an effort to convey a sense of the quintessential Japanese landscape. In the Japanese arts, the combination of maple trees and deer are linked to autumn; in traditional beliefs deer were also seen as messengers of the gods. Even today Nara park is home to hundreds of deer." Hotei Vol. 1; pg. 131-132