Details

Meandering clouds traverse the iconic form of Mt. Fuji, while the wildly overgrown late autumn grasses populate the foreground, echoing the wind. These elements showcase the artist’s quick, spontaneous hand at work. Though rendered as a minor piece on a shikishiban (presentation board) format, the work is imbued with vitality and charm, invoking the dynamism for which Sasajima is so well known in his woodblock print designs.

Connoisseur's Note

This early piece is a rarely offered work by this renowned Sosaku Hanga artist. Despite his clear talent, Sasajima was selective in his commissions for paintings or drawings, as many Sosaku Hanga artists considered printmaking to be an equally—if not more—valid form of artistic expression than traditional painting. The exceptional beauty of this painting, combined with the artist’s simplified technique, reflects Sasajima's profound artistic skill and his ability to work across different mediums with versatility.