Inland Sea

A third impression variant of Hasui's Inland Sea composition, this woodblock print presents a view of the Seto Naikai, the shallow sea bordered by Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu. The Inland Sea's characteristic landscape — small forested islands rising from calm water, fishing boats with dark sails, and a horizon dissolving into atmospheric haze — provided Hasui with a subject that emphasized horizontal expanse and tonal delicacy. In this edition the balance between sky reflection on the water surface and the depth of the sky tone may vary from related impressions, reflecting differences in pigment application during printing. The bokashi gradation of the sky, transitioning from the pale luminosity near the horizon to a richer tone at the upper edge, would have required careful baren pressure and block moisture control. The Inland Sea remained a popular subject for shin-hanga landscape prints throughout the Taisho and early Showa periods.