Page 176 - September 21 2021 Important Japanese Art Christie's NYC

269 KAWASE HASUI (1883-1957) 270 KAWASE HASUI (1883-1957)

Hiraizumi Chusonji Konjikido Hiraizumi Konjikido (Konjiki Hall
(Konjiki Hall of Chusonji Temple at Hiraizumi)

in Hiraizumi) Woodblock print, signed Hasui and sealed Being the last work (zeppitsu) of Hasui, the first impressions
Kawase, with Zeppitsu (last work) seal, of this print were distributed to the Hasui's friends and
Woodblock print, from the series Nihon fukei acquaintances on the hundread-day of his death memorial
shu higashi Nihon hen (Collected views of published by Watanabe Shozaburo, May 1957 service. The Konjiki Hall print Hasui presented in 1935 (lot
Japan: Eastern Japan), signed Hasui and sealed Vertical oban: 15Ω x 10Ω in. (39.3 x 26.5 cm.) 269) sets up the temple under the bright moonlight. Continued
Kawase, published by Watanabe Shozaburo, the same compostition, in this work Hasui depicted a lonely
October 1935 $10,000-15,000 monk climbing the stairs to the temple on a snowy day. Hasui
must have chosen such scene on a sentivie note - the frigidness
Vertical oban: 15Ω x 10æ in. (39.3 x 27.2 cm.)
of snowy winter is associated to death in Japanese aesthetic and
$1,000-2,000 Konjiki Hall is known for its furneral serives. It is difficult to
speculate his feelings towards death, but the seranity of snow,
the neutral hue of the picture, and the lonely figure amongst
nature become conceivable implications to the artist's inner
peace.