Hasui 巴水: Mount Asahi Seen from Mount Shirouma 白馬山より見たる朝日嶽 (Sold)

Artist: Kawase Hasui 巴水 (1883-1957)Title: Mount Asahi Seen from Mount Shirouma 白馬山より見たる朝日嶽 Series: Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series 旅みやげ第三集 (Tabi miyage dai sanshû)Date: 1924 大正十三年 Bold contrasts in texture and tonality characterize this design, which is somewhat atypical of Hasui’s more pedestrian-friendly canon. Hasui accomplished some serious hiking to get this view from Mount Shirouma, which is famous for its alpine flowers once the snow melts in spring. Mt Asahi-dake is the northernmost peak of the Norther Japan Alps, with an elevation of about 2000 meters. The outlines of the clouds are done with relief printing and feature purple and pink applied with the edge-use baren technique. A sublime Taishô-era work.  “This mountain scene is based on a sketch made when Hasui climbed Mt. Shirouma...The shape of the mountain blanketed in a lingering snowfall is beautiful, its placement in the distance creates a majestic feel” –Narazaki. This round Watanabe seal was in early use until about