Pagoda in snow
Artist: Kawase Hasui
Name: Pagoda in snow
Date: Not set
Description: I recently bought a set of 3 postcard prints, and I think 2 *may* be by Koitsu. Only one has a title, and neither has an artist seal. I do believe they were published by Watanabe, and quite possibly pre-war, as the 3rd postcard in the group I bought is a known Watanabe pre-war postcard print (Hiroshige, Snowfall at the Gion Shrine…not nearly so interesting) AND they all have exactly the same mounting, mounting card, etc. In other words, all three postcards were treated exactly the same way and appear to be the same age. I’d really like to get your opinion on these two prints. Re: the two postcard prints, well they have similar subject, composition, and technique as other known Koitsu postcards made by Watanabe. For example, they are very consistent with Zojoji (Zozoji) Temple in Snow, which I have, and I know that one’s by Watanabe because it came in an original Watanabe printed envelope with a Watanabe brochure (along with two Hasui postcards). In fact, of these, I would say that the unsigned/untitled print of a woman crossing a bridge in the snow is the best of the three. You might also compare the following, also attributed (with some uncertainty) to Koitsu: http://www.ukiyoe-gallery.com/detail-b202.htm It seems that there was sort of a series of these snow prints done by Watanabe without artist’s seals.
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