Japanese Woodblock Print Misty Evening Shinobazu Pond Shiro Kasamatsu

A poetically ambient Japanese woodblock print by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991). Entitled "Kasumu Yube, Shinobazu Chihan" (Misty Evening at Shinobazu Pond), the print is one of the best-known landscape works by the artist. In an unusual color variation of near monotone "Arizuri" blue, the print depicts a spring evening by the pond when the sunset is receding into the night. The dim light with a soft glow was wonderfully reflected in the image. Composed in a perspective that is more western view, the image of the figures taking the steps under the Torii gate plays hide and seek through the branches of the weeping willows by the pond. The nearly all blue color, facilitated only with the dark silhouette of the trunk, renders the imagery a moody emotion.
On the left margin there is the Title in Japanese (霞む夕べ 不忍池畔)and the artist's name Kasamatsu Shiro (笠松紫浪). The lower left margin bears a hand-written note possibly by the artist "Ueno Park", where the pond is located. The lower right corner bears a is a Watanabe 6mm seal used between 1915-1989. The inspection of the print and material suggests that it is not a recent print and likely dated to 1930-50s.
Shiro Kasamatsu was a Japanese engraver and print maker trained in the Shin-Hanga and Sōsaku-Hanga styles of woodblock printing.