$1,000–$15,000. Common landscapes: $1,000–$3,000. Key value factors: Kasamatsu's early shin-hanga works (pre-1955) tend to be more valued than his later sosaku-hanga production.
Two or more fish drift in luminous, undulating water, their bodies catching light as they circle lazily through the current. The Japanese title 遊魚 — "playing fish" — suggests leisure and freedom rather than the tension of a hunt, and Kasamatsu's rendering dwells on the graceful suspension of the creatures in their element. The composition likely draws on the sosaku-hanga tradition of rendering natural subjects with bold outlines and close-cropped framing that emphasizes form over narrative.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Playing Fish — 遊魚 was created by Shiro Kasamatsu (笠松紫浪).
Playing Fish — 遊魚 was published by Watanabe Shozaburo.
Playing Fish — 遊魚 depicts music, fish, and animals.
