Detail: Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) was the undisputed master of 20th century Japanese woodblock print landscapes. Over a career lasting forty years (1918-1957) the artist traveled throughout Japan, sketching and painting hundreds of scenes in every season. These were translated into woodblock prints by artisans whose now-lost expertise has never been equaled.

Hasui’s deeply rooted connection to the timeless beauty of Japan brings the viewer a distinct sense of place, whether the views are of a famous temple or an everyday village scene. His details capture a specific time of day or night as well as the exact weather and season, which combines with Hasui’s stellar design viewpoint that is unique to the artist. These images effortlessly create a nostalgic feeling for beautiful places that have been lost to development, but this nostalgia also lacks sentimentality. Similar to Hiroshige in the 19th century, his works have an effortlessly peaceful effect.

This exhibition draws from several private collections that Egenolf Gallery has helped to assemble through our decades of specializing in this artist, and we are pleased to feature early edition works in pristine condition, including a number of pre-earthquake (pre-1923) works. Landscapes by Hasui are becoming more scarce and at the same time more sought-after by collectors in both Japan and the west, leading to scarcity and still-climbing prices.