【Art Print】Kawase Hasui - Spring Moon over Ninomiya Beach

*Framing Options: Museum-grade professional framing takes time and meticulous craftsmanship. Orders require a 2-3 week waiting period. Your patience is appreciated. *Print Only (Unframed): Ships within 3-5 business days. Art Prints: Made in Taiwan. Handcrafted Framing: Made in Taiwan. --- Artwork Sizes: Small: 30 x 42 cm Medium: 50 x 72 cm Large: 60 x 86 cm *For other sizes, please contact us for a consultation. --- Artwork Medium: Art Prints: Giclée on Etching Art Paper --- Hanging Method: Aluminum frames come with a steel wire on the back. You can use a 3M Command Hook (please choose a version rated for 5kg or more for safety) on your wall to hang the artwork. *The original artwork is a woodblock print, so the brushstrokes will appear bold and rustic. https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2025/08/28/619868e061d52f17387dbc771677e883.jpg Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) is one of Japan's most important modern Shin-hanga (new print) artists, often hailed as "Hiroshige of the Showa era." Born in Tokyo, he initially studied Western painting before turning to traditional Japanese art, becoming a student of Kiyokata Kaburagi. Inspired by his fellow student Shinsui Ito's work, Hasui began dedicating himself to the Shin-hanga movement in 1918. He collaborated with the renowned publisher Shōzaburō Watanabe, embarking on a creative career that spanned decades. Hasui's oeuvre primarily consists of landscape prints. He excelled at capturing the subtle shifts in light and shadow across the seasons, transforming the natural scenery and urban landscapes of Japan into poetic imagery. His compositions often evoke a tranquil atmosphere, frequently depicting dusk, night, rain, or snow. Figures are rare or absent, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the pure scenery and experience a sense of solitary romance. This unique aesthetic made his works highly popular both domestically and internationally during his time, earning him the moniker "traveling artist." In terms of technique, Hasui blended the traditions of Ukiyo-e with the Western Impressionist approach to light and shadow. He not only continued the meticulous carving and color layering of woodblock printing but also skillfully employed the "bokashi" (gradient) technique, creating a soft, watercolor-like effect in his prints. This required a high degree of coordination between the carver and printer. Compared to the flat color application of Edo-period Ukiyo-e, Hasui's works possess a more painterly quality, showcasing the innovative spirit of Shin-hanga. Throughout his life, Kawase Hasui created approximately 620 woodblock prints, including significant series such as "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo," "Selected Japanese Landscapes," and "Twenty Views of Tokyo." His works not only document the appearance of Japanese cities and countryside during the Taisho and Showa eras but also garnered widespread international acclaim. In 1956, he was designated a "Living National Treasure" for his outstanding contributions to Japanese art. He passed away the following year at the age of 74. Today, Kawase Hasui's prints are held in the collections of major museums worldwide, including the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. His artistic achievements symbolize the fusion of Japanese tradition and modernity, preserving the romantic imagery of Japanese landscapes while showcasing the boundless charm of woodblock printing in the modern era. "Actual Photography of Japanese Antique Print Series Output" https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2025/08/20/a191786d3ceaccd20409091993920a1f.jpg Understanding Japanese Woodblock Prints: Production Process and Roles 1️⃣ Artist (絵師, Eschi) Responsible for creating the original sketch (下絵). Provides overall composition, figures, and landscape design. Example: Hokusai Katsushika, Hiroshige Utagawa, Kawase Hasui. 2️⃣ Publisher (版元, Hanmoto) The core of the team, akin to a "producer + distributor." Finances and plans the work, deciding on themes and collaborating with artists. Hires carvers and printers, overseeing progress and quality. Responsible for sales and promotion, determining print runs. Example: Shōzaburō Watanabe during the Shin-hanga movement. 3️⃣ Block Carver (彫師, Hōshi) Transfers the artist's sketch onto woodblocks. Each color requires a separate woodblock. Requires extremely high precision, down to the millimeter, to prevent color misregistration. 4️⃣ Printer (摺師, Surishi) Uses the woodblocks and pigments to print the image layer by layer onto Japanese paper (washi). Responsible for the nuances of color, "bokashi" (gradient) effects, and light and shadow. The skill level directly impacts the final appearance of the artwork. https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2023/07/11/4b853563c2267abe4f46e392cf820e6b.jpg https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2022/04/12/c6d34fbc231337ab8da27935ab4f31db.jpg https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2022/01/14/1134fa6cd7cfbb6ffc6c2529c9f80d92.jpg https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2022/01/14/1aa39bffc4d2ad4f72254a345e4e294e.jpg https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2023/10/26/b011dd717f432dd262c032f1f02f4f8f.jpg