Morning at Tsutanuma Pond — Tsutanuma no asa

This print depicts the still waters of Tsutanuma Pond in Akita Prefecture at dawn, a subject Hasui returned to across multiple editions. The composition likely centers on glassy water reflecting a pale morning sky, with reeds or bare trees framing the foreground. As a later edition or printing state, the impression may show subtle differences in color registration or bokashi gradation compared to earlier pulls. Hasui's meisho-e treatment of this northern Japanese landscape exemplifies his interest in provincial beauty beyond the well-traveled Tokaido corridors. Published under the Watanabe Shozaburo imprint, the print is executed on washi in the oban format typical of his shin-hanga landscapes. The muted tones of a northern dawn — pale grays, wan blues, and soft ochres — demonstrate the sophisticated multi-block printing techniques that distinguished Watanabe's atelier from earlier ukiyo-e production. The horizontal stillness of the pond surface contrasts with delicate vertical elements in the surrounding vegetation.