Kamakura daibutsu (The Great Buddha at Kamamura) (1930) Art Print | Kawase Hasui

Kawase Hasui was one of Japan’s most celebrated woodblock print artists of the 20th century, known for his atmospheric landscapes and poetic evocations of seasonal beauty. A key figure in the Shin-Hanga ("New Prints") movement, Hasui masterfully blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with Western influences in light, shadow, and perspective.

Born in Tokyo, Hasui originally aspired to be a Western-style painter, but after studying under Kaburagi Kiyokata, a master of ukiyo-e, he turned to woodblock prints. In 1918, he began working with publisher Shōzaburō Watanabe, who pioneered the Shin-Hanga revival. Their collaboration led to the creation of some of the most iconic landscape prints of modern Japan.

Hasui’s works depict tranquil temples, snowy villages, quiet canals, and moonlit streets — rendered with subtle gradations of color and exceptional attention to weather, light, and mood. He often traveled across Japan to sketch on-site, capturing fleeting, everyday scenes and elevating them to timeless beauty.

His prints reflect a deep sense of nostalgia and harmony with nature, especially poignant during a period of rapid modernization in Japan. In 1956, a year before his death, Hasui was honored as a Living National Treasure, one of the highest cultural distinctions in Japan.

Today, Kawase Hasui’s serene and lyrical landscapes continue to captivate collectors and art lovers around the world, standing as enduring symbols of Japanese artistry and quiet reflection.