Kawase Hasui was one of Japan’s most representative printmakers from the Taishō to the Shōwa period, and is widely known as a leading figure of the shin-hanga (New Prints) movement. In recognition of his achievements, he has often been called “the Hiroshige of the Shōwa era” and a “poet of travel.” Over the course of his lifetime, he produced more than 600 exquisite landscape prints.
The greatest appeal of Hasui’s work lies in its overwhelming sense of lyricism, which goes far beyond mere topographical depiction. Traveling throughout Japan, he carefully portrayed landscapes that were gradually disappearing with modernization, capturing with remarkable sensitivity the atmosphere of each place and the subtle transitions of light.
Hasui was particularly at his best in his depictions of snow, rain, and night scenes. Moonlight falling upon the surface of water, the hushed stillness of steadily accumulating snow, or the glow of streetlamps reflected on rain-soaked stone pavements—these scenes, rendered through delicate gradations of color, deeply resonate with the viewer. Such meticulous expression was made possible by the advanced carving and printing techniques he pursued in collaboration with his publisher, Watanabe Shōzaburō. Whereas traditional ukiyo-e prints were typically completed in only a handful to a dozen impressions, Hasui’s works required dozens of printings, resulting in a photographic sense of depth and richly saturated tones comparable to oil painting.
Hasui’s artistic merit was recognized early on overseas. It is well known, for example, that Steve Jobs was an avid collector of his works. By capturing Japan’s changing landscapes in a way that feels both nostalgic and suspended in an eternal stillness, Hasui’s prints continue to offer modern viewers a profound sense of calm and solace, allowing them to momentarily forget the busyness of everyday life.
The greatest appeal of Hasui’s work lies in its overwhelming sense of lyricism, which goes far beyond mere topographical depiction. Traveling throughout Japan, he carefully portrayed landscapes that were gradually disappearing with modernization, capturing with remarkable sensitivity the atmosphere of each place and the subtle transitions of light.
Hasui was particularly at his best in his depictions of snow, rain, and night scenes. Moonlight falling upon the surface of water, the hushed stillness of steadily accumulating snow, or the glow of streetlamps reflected on rain-soaked stone pavements—these scenes, rendered through delicate gradations of color, deeply resonate with the viewer. Such meticulous expression was made possible by the advanced carving and printing techniques he pursued in collaboration with his publisher, Watanabe Shōzaburō. Whereas traditional ukiyo-e prints were typically completed in only a handful to a dozen impressions, Hasui’s works required dozens of printings, resulting in a photographic sense of depth and richly saturated tones comparable to oil painting.
Hasui’s artistic merit was recognized early on overseas. It is well known, for example, that Steve Jobs was an avid collector of his works. By capturing Japan’s changing landscapes in a way that feels both nostalgic and suspended in an eternal stillness, Hasui’s prints continue to offer modern viewers a profound sense of calm and solace, allowing them to momentarily forget the busyness of everyday life.
