【Art Print】Kawase Hasui - Clearing Snow, Yoshida

*Framing Options: Museum-grade professional framing, a time-consuming process. Orders require 2-3 weeks for completion. Your patience is appreciated. *Paper Print Only (Unframed): Ships within 3-5 business days. Art Micro-spraying: Made in Taiwan. Handcrafted Framing: Made in Taiwan. --- Print 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. --- Print Size: Art Micro-spraying Giclée Etching Art Paper --- Hanging Method: Aluminum frames come with a steel wire on the back. You can use 3M Command Hooks (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/d6059b000cc5345e13fb720e34b55e8f.jpg Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) is one of Japan's most important modern Shin-hanga (New Print) artists, hailed as "Hiroshige of the Showa era." Born in Shiba, Tokyo, he initially studied Western painting before transitioning to traditional Japanese art, becoming a disciple of Kiyokata Kaburagi. In 1918, inspired by the work of his fellow student Shinsui Ito, Hasui began dedicating himself to the Shin-hanga movement. He collaborated with the renowned publisher Shozaburo Watanabe, embarking on a creative career that spanned decades. Hasui's work primarily features 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 serene atmosphere, frequently depicting twilight, night scenes, rain, or snow. Figures are scarce or entirely 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 "Travel-mood Painter." In terms of technique, Hasui combined the traditions of Ukiyo-e with the light and shadow treatment of Western Impressionism. 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 the 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 urban and rural landscapes of Japan during the Taisho and Showa eras but also resonated widely on the international stage. 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 infinite charm of woodblock printing in the modern era. "Actual Photos 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, Hasui Kawase. 2️⃣ Publisher (版元, Hanmoto) The core of the team, akin to a "producer + distributor." Finances and plans the work, deciding on themes and artist collaborations. Hires carvers and printers, overseeing progress and quality. Responsible for sales and promotion, determining print runs. Example: Shozaburo Watanabe during the Shin-hanga movement. 3️⃣ Carver (彫師, Hōshi) Transfers the artist's sketch onto wooden blocks. Each color requires a separate wooden block. Requires extremely high precision, down to the millimeter, to ensure accurate color registration. 4️⃣ Printer (摺師, Surishi) Uses the wooden blocks and pigments to print the image layer by layer onto Japanese paper (washi). Responsible for color intensity, "bokashi" (gradient effects), and light and shadow effects. 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