October 2002 - Five Additional Hasui Prints Re-issued by Watanabe
As many collectors of Hasui prints already know, the Watanabe Publishing House surprised the collector's community earlier in 2002 with the first reprinting of five early Hasui designs. At that time, Watanabe promised that additional re-issued prints would soon follow, as did happen with the second re-issuing of of five Hasui prints in mid-June 2002. Now, a third batch of earlier (1930 to 1940) prints has been re-issued. As before, all prints follow the high quality standards for which Watanabe Publishing is so well known.
All prints are sealed with a black round 7mm Watanabe seal and the red "Heisei-seal."
I do recall, around two years ago, that during one of my personal meetings
with
Mr. Shoichiro Watanabe he told me
that they were at that time collecting and combining sets of woodblocks that had been
scattered in different locations for many years and that, once the sets were
complete (and in good condition) printing would be resumed of these "old" Hasui
designs.
Well, that moment has again come true!! According to the Watanabe Publishing House,
all blocks used in their printing are the original blocks. "The prints are from the original blocks, therefore
we call them "atosuri" - or late editions. In case of any re-cut blocks, we would (otherwise)
name them reproductions".
When recently asked why it had taken so long to reprint these fine designs,
a simple reply was given: "Increased customer's demand." We do not know who printed
the new Hasui's, but it is clearly evident that the level of quality is very high -
in accordance with the consistently high standards of Watanabe.
Narazaki N168 "Omori Beach" 1930 Watanabe H** Narazaki N172 "Sengaku Temple" 1931 Watanabe H** Narazaki N174a "Mairi River" 1931 Watanabe H** Narazaki N176 "Evening at Tago Bay" 1940 Watanabe H** Narazaki N211 "Twin Islands at Matsushima" 1933 Watanabe H** (c) September 2002, Andreas Grund and Thomas
Crossland
NOTE: Any of the above five prints are available for sale--INQUIRE.