Artist: Kawase Hasui
Medium: Original Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print
Series Title: Snow
Edition: First State - Limited Edition #165/350
Date: 1930
Publisher: Sakai/Kawaguchi
Reference No.: Hotei #213
Size: 11 x 16 "
Condition: Mint, with superb colors
Notes:
A stunning near pristine example of this highly desirable limited edition snow scene. Red numbered seal, #165/350 and "Made in Japan", stamped on the reverse.
In addition to working with a number of publishers throughout his career Hasui also collaborated with many printers and carvers, whose skills were indispensable to the printmaking process and to the successful completion of a print. In particular, Hasui is known to have a close working relationship with one of Watanabe's printers, Ono Gintaro, who principally oversaw the printing of the artist's works. However, with the sixteen prints that Hasui produced under the joint publication of Sakai and Kawaguchi, the artist worked with the carver Maeda Kantaro and the printer Komatsu Wasakichi.
The Sacred bridge was a well-known structure in Japan, leading from the nearby village in Nikko to the Toshogu grounds, and was not an uncommon theme of both Edo and Meiji period print designers. The Sacred bridge was located next to another wooden bridge that was employed for everyday travel. This red-colored bridge was specifically reserved for a select few and for use on festival days.