Kawase HASUI (1883-1957)

Hasui travelled the country and captured his impressions in his travel sketch books (called Souvenirs of Travel). In 1923, the Great Kantō Earthquake destroyed almost all of Hasui’s early works, including the sketch books and most of the woodblocks.

Kawase Hasui and Hiroshi Yoshida have been the two most popular shing-hanga artists, who focused on urban or rural landscapes. Naturalistic light, shade, textures and perspective are tools to show the tranquillity of human-nature coexistence. Seasons (early spring, midsummer, cherry blossom…), the time of day (full moon, morning mist…) and weather conditions (temple in snow or after rain…) mark the prints also temporally specific.

In 1956, the Japanese government’s Committee for the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage selected Zojo Temple in Snow and the documentation of its production as Intangible Cultural Treasures, the greatest artistic honour in post-war Japan.