[Art Print] Kawase Hasui - Ueno Kiyomidō

*Framing Options: Professional museum-grade framing takes time and meticulous craftsmanship. Orders require a 2-3 week waiting period. Thank you for your patience. *Unframed Print Only: Ships within 3-5 business days. 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 consultation. --- Print Medium: Art Giclée on Etching Paper --- How to Hang: Aluminum frames come with a wire on the back. You can use 3M Command Hooks (please choose a version rated for 5kg or more for safety) to hang the artwork 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/2025/08/20/1c18948277c78657f1e37e5429e1147b.jpg Kawase Hasui (1883–1957) is one of Japan's most important modern Shin-hanga (New Print) artists, hailed as "Shōwa's Hiroshige." Born in Shiba, Tokyo, he initially studied Western painting before turning to traditional Japanese art, apprenticing under Kiyokata Kaburagi. Inspired by his fellow student Shinsui Ito's work, Hasui began his involvement in the Shin-hanga movement in 1918. He collaborated with the renowned publisher Shōzaburō 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 dusk, night, rain, or snow. Figures are sparse or absent, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the pure scenery and experience a sense of solitary romance. This unique aesthetic made his work 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" (gradual shading) technique, creating soft, watercolor-like effects in his prints. This required exceptional coordination between the carver and printer. Compared to the flat colors of Edo-period Ukiyo-e, Hasui's works possess a painterly quality, showcasing the innovative spirit of Shin-hanga. Kawase Hasui created approximately 620 woodblock prints throughout his life, 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's Taishō and Shōwa 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 photo 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, character, and landscape design. E.g., 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 collaborating with artists. Hires carvers and printers, overseeing progress and quality. Responsible for sales and promotion, determining print runs. E.g., Shōzaburō Watanabe during the Shin-hanga movement. 3️⃣ 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 ensure accurate color registration. 4️⃣ Printer (摺師, Surishi) Uses the woodblocks and pigments to print the image layer by layer onto Japanese paper (和紙). Responsible for color intensity, shading (ぼかし), and light 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