Hasui Kawase is a modern Japanese artist of the shin-hanga movement. He was born in Tokyo as the son of a silk braid merchant. He studied both Western and Japanese-style painting before turning to woodblock printing in 1919. Most of his works were published by Shozaburo Watanabe who first recognised his talent. During the earthquake of 1923, the majority of Hasui’s woodblocks and sketches were destroyed such that the work shown above is considered a rare example. Hasui was recognised by the Japanese government’s Committee for the Preservation of Intangible Cultural Heritage which was the greatest honour an artist could receive in postwar Japan.
Hasui Kawase
Image: Sunrise at Kude Beach, Wakasa, from the series Souvenirs of Travels.
Date: 1920
Image created before the Kanto Earthquake
