'Chusonji Temple'
This Hasui limited edition, lifetime print is from the Calendar for the Pacific Transport Lines, 1953.  This image was used to illustrate the month of December in this series for the calendar.  The Chusonji (Chuson) temple is in Hiraizumi in the southern Iwate prefecture.  This work has not been reprinted after the initial edition of 500, so it is quite scarce, if not rare.  It is also referenced in the Hotei/Hasui catalogue raisonne, page 131: 'Narazaki explains that 500 examples of this calendar were commissioned by the Pacific transport lines for distribution in the United States and that it was created within the time-honored tradition of meisho-e (pictures of famous views).  He adds that while Hasui did not ordinarily undertake this type of work, the artist seems to have become quite engrossed in this project in an effort to convey a sense of the quintessential Japanese landscape." and "Both the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo and Hasui attached importance to the fact that these compositions were intended as souvenirs for foreigners." The title and the artist's signature are printed in English in the margin, along with Hasui's Kanji signature and seal.  This calendar print was published in 1952.  The sight size of this print is 15.5" x 10", and the frame measures 19" x 15".  It has moderate generalized toning.    P65517