River, lake, and coastal scenes form the largest single category in Hasui's output — steady, popular subjects with consistent demand. Value is driven primarily by edition period (pre-war vs. postwar lifetime vs. posthumous), condition, and the presence of seasonal atmospheric effects. Night and rain variants of water scenes command 20–40% premiums over comparable daytime views. Pre-war lifetime editions bearing the Watanabe copyright seal (A through G types, 1926–1944) are the most desirable.
Dawn over Lake Shoji, dated circa 1935, depicts the smallest of the Fuji Five Lakes — Lake Shoji (Shojiko) — in the pre-dawn or dawn light when the sky transitions from deep blue-black to the first pale gold of sunrise. Lake Shoji's small size and position directly at the base of Fuji's northwestern slope give it one of the most intimate views of the mountain: the volcano's cone rising almost immediately above the lake's western shore, its reflection in the still water doubling the composition's vertical thrust. The circa 1935 date places this among Hasui's mid-career Fuji lake subjects.
$1,800
Nikko Chuzenjiko
1930
Color woodblock print; oban
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Niigata Gosaibori
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Dawn over Lake Shoji was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水) in c. 1935.
Dawn over Lake Shoji uses Bokashi, on color woodblock print; shikishiban.
Dawn over Lake Shoji was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1935).
Dawn over Lake Shoji depicts rivers & lakes and interiors.
