Kawase Hasui 川瀬 巴水 (Japanese, 1883-1957), Showa era, 1920
The Garden Viewed from a Western-Style Building (Yokan yori teien o nozomu)

An extremely rare Japanese woodblock print titled The Garden Viewed from a Western-Style Building (Yokan yori teien o nozomu), a title which was given by Narazaki Muneshige, representing a very fine and extremely scarce woodblock print from the series commissioned by the Mitsubishi Company of the Iwasaki family's Kiyosumi villa and garden in Fukagawa district, Koto, Tokyo, together with original presentation folder with a stamp and handwritten note reading 'With compliments from Baron K. Iwasaki, Christmas 1920, Tokio', published and sealed by Watanabe Shozaburo.

Baron Koyata Iwasaki was a prominent Japanese industrialist who served as the fourth and final president of the unified Mitsubishi conglomerate, also a member of the founding Iwasaki family, he led the company during a critical period marked by rapid industrial growth as well as the turbulence of World War II. Under his leadership, Mitsubishi expanded its influence across shipping, mining, and heavy industry, becoming one of Japan’s most powerful zaibatsu. His tenure came to an end following Japan’s defeat in 1945, when the Allied Occupation Forces ordered the dissolution of the major zaibatsu, making him the last individual to hold the presidency of the unified Mitsubishi organization.

Dimensions: 26.5cm x 38.7cm

Gifted by Baron Koyota Iwasaki;

Japanese Private Collection;

British Private Collection

Please find another impression of this woodblock print housed in the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, collection no. P00140-010; another housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, collection no. 1990.607.505