Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach
Artist: Kawase Hasui
Name: Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach
Date: 1932
Description: Saturday, 1 July 2006 Kawase Hasui (1833 – 1957) “Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach” Japanese Woodblock Print – 1932 Reprinted 1951??This beautiful vintage Japanese woodcut is from an estate sale. It is Kawase Hasui’s “Spring Moon at Ninomiya Beach” originally printed in 1932. I think this one was reprinted in 1951, but I’m not sure about that. This luminous, moonlit seashore scene of Ninomiya Beach is in the Kanagawa Prefecture on Japan’s northwest coast. The print is 15 3/4″ X 10 5/8″ and the image size is 9 1/2″ X 14 1/2″. The left side (1st set of Japanese character pictures above) is a poem conveying the feeling of looking up at the full moon from the base of the large tree. The publisher is Doi Hangaten with the Doi seal. The carver/printer is Harada/Yokoi. The back of the print is inscribed as shown with a date of April 22, 1951, but luckily none of the inscription shows through or has bled through to the print surface! The print was originally framed and tipped in at the top with tape. As shown in the photo, I have left the tape in place (with some of the backing attached – the top margin of the print is not torn) to be removed by the experts. There are some minor vertical creases at the top margin due to the tape. There is very slight foxing on the margins but overall the print is in excellent condition with deep color saturation and crisp lines, evoking a sense of tranquility and wonder.
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