Woodblock Prints by Kawase Hasui May 28, 2009

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) was one of the first artists associated with the shin-hanga (literally "new print") movement that arose in the 1920s. Shin-hanga artists specialized in nostalgic, romanticized views of Japan, which were produced using the time-honored system of enlisting the aid of a publisher, woodblock carvers, and highly skilled printers. Thus, "new" referred to the revival of traditional woodblock print production. In contrast, artists associated with the sosaku-hanga (creative print) movement were inspired by the Western ideal of the independent artist who carved and printed his own designs. This exhibition features 13 prints by Hasui, showing how the artist's eyes captured the timeless beauty of Japanese scenery in the midst of a major transformation that was taking place in the country.