[Art Print] Kawase Hasui - Spring Night at Inokashira

*Framing Options: Professional museum-grade framing. This meticulous process requires time, so please allow 2-3 weeks for your order. *Unframed Print Only: Ships within 3-5 business days. Fine Art Printing: 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 custom consultation. --- Medium: Fine Art Giclée on Etching Paper --- Hanging Method: Aluminum frames come with a steel wire on the back. You can use 3M Command Strips (please purchase the 5kg or higher weight rating version for safety) to hang them on your wall. *The original artwork is a woodblock print, so the brushstrokes will appear bold and rustic. https://image-cdn-flare.qdm.cloud/q665027dd6a3a4/image/data/2025/08/18/18d54d70e539e79152320e1497312b3e.jpg Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) is one of the most important artists of the Shin-hanga (New Print) movement in modern Japan, hailed as "Hiroshige of the Showa era." Born in Tokyo, he initially studied Western painting before turning to traditional Japanese art, becoming a disciple of Kaburagi Kiyokata. In 1918, inspired by the work of his fellow student Ito Shinsui, Hasui began dedicating himself to the Shin-hanga movement. He collaborated with the renowned publisher Watanabe Shozaburo, embarking on a creative career that spanned decades. Hasui's work 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 serene atmosphere, frequently depicting dusk, night, rain, or snow. Figures are rare 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 "the painter of travelogue." 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, giving his prints a soft, watercolor-like effect. 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 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 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 the overall composition, character, and landscape design. Example: Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawase Hasui. 2️⃣ Publisher (版元, Hanmoto) The core of the team, similar to a "producer + distributor." Finances and plans the work, decides on themes, and collaborates with artists. Hires carvers and printers, overseeing progress and quality. Responsible for sales and promotion, determining print runs. Example: Watanabe Shozaburo 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, accurate 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 color saturation, gradients (ぼかし), and light and shadow effects. The final quality of the print directly depends on their skill level. 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