Kawase Hasui – Shiba Benten Pond (Hasui Kawase – Shiba Benten ike)

Original woodblock print. The first edition of this design was published in 1929. The current print is not from the earliest, but still from an early edition, printed close to the 1950s.

This print by Kawase Hasui depicts the Shinobazu Pond in Ueno Park, Tokyo, home of the Benten temple. The pond is divided into three separate ponds, with the Lotus pond that is depicted here perhaps being the most remarkable. The print seems to show the pond in the height of summer, as it is at that time that the Lotus pond is fully covered by blossoming Lotus plants. In the middle are two women, seemingly enjoying the beautify of the sight as well.

Somewhere in the 1950s the original woodblocks used to make this print were obtained by publisher Shobisha, who used them again recently to print a new edition, of excellent quality as usual.

Image size (excluding margins): 23.8 * 36.5 cm (9.4 * 14.4 in).

The print is in fair state. It has strongly discolored, as can be seen at the very edges of the image, where the original colors were retained much better. There are many spots visible in the margins, and on the back remnants of a previous mounting remain.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

See an overview of Kawase Hasui's woodblock prints