Hasui Kawase was a master of the landscape print, depicting
virtually every seasonal
mood from evening scenes of mountains and
rivers bathed in clear moonlight to
trees and temples basking
in the warmth of summer's sun. His travels to virtually
every
region of Japan gave him a wealth of subjects which his talents
would
transform into more than four hundred prints admired to this day. Although he
created prints of beautiful women and actors, his greatest interest
was
in the landscapes he observed throughout his travels. His
prints depict the wonders
of nature's mountains, rivers, forests
and lakes as well as the majesty
of bridges, canals, temples
and shrines wrought by the hand of man.
Hasui's works have been
given a place in Japan's art history alongside such great
landscape artists as Hokusai and Hiroshige; in 1956, one year
before his death,
Hasui was accorded the honor of being named a Living National Treasure.
~NEXT~
