Rain at Uchi-Yamashita, Okayama
by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)

	Artist:	Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) — 川瀬巴水
	Title:	Rain at Uchi-Yamashita, Okayama
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	1923
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Watanabe — 渡辺
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Watanabe — 渡辺
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Aiban
	Format (this edition):	Aiban
	DB artwork code:	30723
	Notes (first edition)?:
	Notes (this edition)?:	The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies: Note: Post-quake: Of the series of 36 listed by Merritt & Yamada, it looks like 6 are post-earthquake. Obviously, the subject image is not one of them. [ Editor's note: confirming this, Pachter identifies N#112 "Uchiyamashita, Okayama" as the first Hasui print after the earthquake.] Now, take a look at Toledo 1930, numbers 108-113. Blair lists them under "Selected Landscape Series (Fukei Senshu)", and indeed these are the 6 post-earthquake prints in the series. An interesting point (if there is one) is that according to Blair, No. 108 was an edition of 300, No. 109-111 were editions of 200, No. 112 shows as 100, and No. 113 shows as 300. Apparently the fixed edition size of 300 contemplated at the outset of the series, was not the rule for those after the Sept 1 Big One. Rain at Uchisange Artist: Hasui Format: Small Oban tate-e: 11.75" x 9.75" Subject: From the series of selected landscapes, 'Rain at Uchisange'. A scene with two bijin out walking in the rain with open umbrellas, with a man wearing a raincoat standing before a doorway. Publisher: Round seal, Watanabe Date: Pre-earthquake, 1923 Condition: Fine colors. A small gum residue along top and bottom margins. Some small thinned spots. Minor marks and flaws. Generally fine state of preservation. Impression: Fine impression with gauffrage This work, clearly one of Hasui's great compositions, is titled "Rain at Uchi Yamashita, Okayama" and from the series "Selected Views of Japan". It was printed in 1923 by the publisher Watanabe. It has a superb composition, depicting a common alleyway with stonewalls in the old castle town of Okayama during a dowpour. The women with parasols provide an opening into the image further emphasized by the figure of another passerby draped in a yellow parka. Hasui's early works mostly draw on the rural and common places rather than the idyllic and picturesque images of Japan. This print has sharp color and great block registration. Reference: "Modern Japanese Prints 1912-1989" by Lawrence Smith. Catalog of prints at the British Museum, plate 41.
	Artist Bio:	川瀬 巴水。1883年（明治16年）5月18日 - 1957年（昭和32年）11月7 日）。大正・昭和期の浮世絵師、版画家。1918年 （大正7年）、風景画家として世に出る。以後、数多くの木版画を発表。 衰退した日本の浮世絵版画を復興すべく吉田博らとともに新しい浮世絵版画の叙情的世界に、自然に肉薄する近代人の視点を導入することにより、独自の世界を展開した。享年74歳。