Arashiyama In Spring

Among the later editions of Hasui's Arashiyama spring views, this print may reflect changes in the color palette or ink application made for a subsequent publisher's edition, possibly by Doi Teiichi who acquired many Watanabe designs and reissued them with revised color keys. The composition centers on the iconic conjunction of the Togetsukyo bridge, the Oi River, and the cherry-blossomed hillside — a grouping as recognizable in twentieth-century shin-hanga as in earlier ukiyo-e landscape traditions. Subtle differences in the pinkness of the blossoms, the depth of the water's blue-grey, or the sky bokashi distinguish this from closely related impressions. The print attests to the sustained popularity of the Arashiyama subject across Hasui's career and demonstrates how repeat printing of successful compositions was central to the economics of shin-hanga publishing.