Illustrated is a large, porcelain charger decorated
using a clear glaze, black and red overglaze enamel and a small amount of
sgraffito to help detail the highly animated fish. Though best known for his
aspara like sprites in various stages of undress, Hasegawa Sojin (b.1935) is
well known for a large vocabulary of designs that he used through out his
career with a number of detailed study drawings, paintings and scroll show up now and again. This particular design is often seen and the layout is carefully constructed for
use on plates and bowls of various sizes in such a way as to create a well
articulated and animated space that is both inviting and refreshing to the
viewer. As an heir to the Ko-Kutani and Kutani based traditions, Hasegawa has
spent his career dedicated to making iro-e style porcelains that come from a
new style that was put forth by several post-war potters like Tokuda Yasokichi
I and Kitade Tojiro who I suspect has strongly influenced his works. Though
this platter has very traditional elements in the decoration and form it is
easy to see that it stands as a more modern creation in the bold portrayal of the
subject matter and crisp, fresh and energetic nature establishing that
distinctive edge that Hasegawa Sojin is so well known and admired for.
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