Kawase Hasui Riverbank at Komagata, 1919 Japanese Art Print

The scent of drying reeds and the quiet shift of a resting horse define this moment along the Sumida River. This print captures a tranquil scene from 1919, where massive vertical bundles of green reeds dominate the composition, creating a textured backdrop for the dark horse and its wooden cart. The artist uses a vibrant palette of emerald and lime greens contrasted with the deep brown of the animal and the pale gold of the ground, while a small window of blue water and distant buildings offers a sense of geographic depth.

There is a profound stillness in this depiction of pre-industrial Tokyo life. It reflects the Shin-hanga movement’s focus on light and mood, lifting a mundane moment of labor into something contemplative. The worker resting on the cart suggests a fleeting pause in the heat of the day, inviting the viewer to slow down and appreciate the simple harmony between the urban landscape and the natural materials being harvested.

It belongs with the japanese art prints, and looks deliberate hung near japanese woodblock prints.