Evening Snow Edo River
by Kawase Hasui
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Watanabe Print
- Image courtesy of
- Watanabe Print
Description
This print depicts the Edo River — one of the waterways draining the Kantô plain east of Tokyo — under snowfall at dusk. River views were a staple of Edo-period meisho-e and Hasui adapted the convention to modern subjects, using the horizontal expanse of water as a mirror for sky tones while snow accumulates on embankments and any visible rivercraft or structures. The bokashi gradation in the sky and water reflection would have required careful coordination between the printer and the original key block design, as large areas of graduated wash are among the technically demanding aspects of traditional woodblock production. The Edo River's flat, open terrain gave Hasui scope for the kind of expansive, low-horizon composition that distinguishes his river and coastal landscape subjects.
More Prints by Kawase Hasui
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
Woodblock print
The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Evening Snow Edo River was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水).
Evening Snow Edo River depicts landscapes.