Rain in Maekawa, Söshü

The second printing of Rain in Maekawa, Söshü reproduces the same coastal Sagami composition as the first state but may show differences in the density of rainfall lines, the saturation of ground-plane colors, or the bokashi gradation of the sky. Successive printings of Hasui's designs were common practice at Watanabe Shozaburo's studio, with popular designs reissued over years or decades to meet demand. Block wear over repeated print runs could soften fine detail, particularly in the delicate parallel lines used to depict rainfall and in the subtle color gradations of water surfaces. The Maekawa subject, with its quiet provincial character, typifies Hasui's interest in lesser-visited Japanese landscapes rather than the iconic sites more frequently depicted in traditional ukiyo-e, reflecting the shin-hanga movement's broader documentary ambition.