Frosty Morning in Nagaoka, Izu - Hasui Kawase - Japan

Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) – Frosty Morning in Nagaoka, Izu (Izu Nagaoka shimo no asa - 伊豆長岡霜の朝) – 1939 (Lifetime Printing, c. 1946–1957)
Description
Artist: Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水)
Title: Frosty Morning in Nagaoka, Izu (Izu Nagaoka shimo no asa - 伊豆長岡霜の朝)
Original Date: Showa 14 (1939), February
Printing Date: Lifetime post-war impression (c. 1946–1957) bearing the circular 6mm Watanabe publisher seal
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (渡辺庄三郎)
Format: Ōban yoko-e (approx. 26 x 38 cm)
Description:
A beautiful Shin-hanga landscape by Kawase Hasui depicting straw stacks (wara-zuka) standing in frost-covered fields, with Mount Fuji looming majestic under a soft morning sky in Nagaoka, Izu. Features signature Hasui with red circular seal at the top left, alongside handwritten annotation in the upper margin. Contains the authentic round 6mm Watanabe seal (J-seal) in the image corner, denoting an official lifetime printing executed between 1946 and 1957.
Condition Report
* Overall State: Excellent / Near Fine condition.
* Impression: Fine lifetime impression with sharp details, strong keylines, and subtle embossed texture (karazuri) visible throughout the snowy/frosty ground.
* Color: Fresh, rich pigments with smooth gradient bokashi shading in the sky and mountain.
* Margins/Size: Full margins intact with natural deckled paper edge at the bottom.
* Defects / Wear:
* Unbacked (clean verso).
* Two small paper tape hinge remnants attached along the right edge on the verso (from previous mounting).
* Very slight, uniform age toning along the outer margins; image area remains crisp and clean without stains, foxing, or tears.