Preliminary identification
Photo reference
4 uploaded photos
Overview
An authentic Japanese woodblock print (*shin-hanga*) by master landscape artist Kawase Hasui depicting Lake Shinji in Matsue under a rain-swept sky. The lower right margin displays the circular 6mm publisher's seal of Watanabe Shōzaburō, indicating a high-quality post-war mid-edition striking from the original blocks.
Story
In 1932, Kawase Hasui traveled across western Japan capturing fleeting weather. He preserved the quiet melancholy of rain hitting Lake Shinji just as the old world was rapidly vanishing.
Maker / Origin
Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) was a central figure in the *Shin-hanga* ('New Prints') movement, celebrated for his mastery of atmospheric light, shadow, and weather in Japanese landscapes.
Condition & Value
Very good to excellent condition. The colors appear vibrant and saturated, the margins are full and deckled with no visible mat burn, tears, or creases, and the verso is clean with authentic baren bleed. Excellent preservation quality commands the upper end of the valuation range.
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Comparable demand stays strongest where maker, originality, and venue confidence line up. Broader examples still trade, but the range tightens quickly when provenance, condition, or selling lane fit is missing.
Best Venue
Specialty auction or a focused dealer with buyers already in this lane.
Signed example with light edge wear and original frame.
Comparable format with stronger provenance and cleaner surface.
Smaller related piece with visible craquelure and trimmed margins.
Period match with softer condition and weaker subject matter.
Close market lane comp with similar material and presentation.