Hasui, Kawase (1883 – 1957), “Snow at the Golden Pavilion (Pre-Earthquake)”

Notes: Tipped to acid-free silk matte. A rare, limited edition aiban size pre-earthquake snow scene. Publisher's red limitation chop on the reverse; #29/300 (single edition). In this composition, Hasui has rendered the image in shades of an aizuri-e style ('blue-printed picture') design. The thirty-six prints of this series were produced from 1922 to 1926, the majority of the designs from places in Kyushu. The series title is usually stamped on the margin of each print. All images are in the aiban format. The Golden pavilion (Kinkaku temple) is certainly one of Japan's most celebrated structures. The site of the Kinkaku temple was developed in 1397 by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu (1358-1408) as a retreat and would later become a de facto center of Ashikaga power. In 1408, it was converted into a temple of the Rinzai sect of Zen Buddhism, dedicated to Yoshimitsu's memory. The style of the building inspired the Silver pavilion (Ginkaku temple) of Yoshimitsu's grandson, Yoshimasa (1436-90).