Landscape to City: A Collection of 20th Century Japanese Prints
Landscape to City: A Collection of 20th Century Japanese Prints
Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) | Takamatsu Castle in Sanuki (Sanuki no Takamatsu-jo) | Taisho period, early 20th century
A rare group of pre-earthquake prints
Lot Closed
November 18, 02:15 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 10,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)
Takamatsu Castle in Sanuki (Sanuki no Takamatsu-jo)
Taisho period, early 20th century
woodblock print, from the series Souvenirs of Travel II (Tabi miyage dai nishu), signed Hasui, and with artist's pre-earthquake diamond-shaped seal Kawase, with publisher's circular seal Watanabe (Watanabe Shozaburo), dated Taisho ju, ni, jugo (15th February 1921)
Vertical oban: 38.5 x 26.8 cm., 15 x 10½ in.
Takamatsu Castle was built in 1590 in view of the Seto Inland Sea, the extensive body of water separating three of the four largest islands of Japan. It is one of the few Japanese castles built along a waterfront and features saltwater moats that draw directly from the ocean. Headquarters of the Takamatsu Domain from 1588 to 1869, the Ikoma Clan ruled from the castle for 54 years before their fief was given to the Matsudaira Clan, relatives of the Tokugawa Shogun, who held dominion there for the remainder of the Edo Period (1603-1868).
With blue skies overhead, the reflection of Takamatsu Castle shimmers in the waters of the moat. The quiet scene is sparsely populated by a distant figure accompanied by a dog walking along the castle walls.
For another impression of the same print in the collection of the Edo Tokyo Museum, object number 94203174, go to: