Dahlia

A second recorded impression or edition of Hasui's dahlia subject, this print depicts the same tuberous autumn flower that appears in the related work bearing the same title. Multiple editions of Hasui's popular botanical and floral subjects were common within the shin-hanga publishing system. Variations between this and the related dahlia print may be visible in the rendering of petal edges, background color gradation, or the specific variety of dahlia depicted — the genus includes forms ranging from single-petaled to densely pompon arrangements, each presenting different compositional challenges for woodblock carving. Dahlias bloom in late summer through autumn in Japan, and their rich color range made them attractive subjects for the expanded pigment palette of twentieth-century shin-hanga printmaking. Printed on washi with water-based pigments applied through hand-cut cherry-wood blocks, the work reflects the craft standards maintained by Hasui's publisher.