Kasamatsu Shiro -the Last Shin-hanga Prints Artist
2021, February 2nd-March 28th
- [1st Term] February 2nd-25th
- [2nd Term] March 2nd-28th
※Works change between two terms
Will be closed on February 8, 15, 22, 26-March 1, 8, 15, 22.
Kasamatsu Shirō –the last Shin-hanga print artist
Kasamatsu Shirō (1898-1991) is an ukiyo-e artist who was active during the Taishō Era to the Shōwa Era. He became a pupil of Kaburaki Kiyokata to learn Japanese paintings, and published Shin-hanga prints from the publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō in 1919. He produced Shin-hanga prints portraying modern cityscapes of Tokyo and sceneries of hot spring areas using pale colors. After the war, he left the publisher Watanabe and published his works from Unsōdō Woodblock Print in 1952-1959. Shirō can be considered the last authentic Shin-hanga print artist, as he produced Shin-hanga from its early period and was dedicated to the genre even after the war.
Shin-hanga prints in the spotlight
Shin-hanga print refers to woodblock prints produced between the Taishō and Shōwa Era as collaborative works of artists, carvers and painters. The genre was established by a publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō, and artists of various specialties invented techniques that further developed it. Today, Shin-hanga prints are more popular than ever. Kawase Hasui, known for his landscapes has always maintained it popularity, and Ohara Koson, who painted adorable birds suddenly started to attract attention from about 2 years ago. There will be a large-scale exhibition featuring Yoshida Hiroshi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of his death at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum in Ueno, around the same time as this exhibition.
Discovering the Shin-hanga prints of Kasamatsu Shirō
Kasamatsu Shirō’s was hardly recognized in the past, as his painting style was considered to be similar to that of Kawase Hasui. However, the landscapes painted with pale colors have unique charm. It is the 30th anniversary of his death this year. In celebration, this exhibition will present the entirety of Shirō’s Shin-hanga prints. There will be about 130 paintings including Shin-hanga prints from the Taishō Era and the beginning of Shōwa Era as well as woodblock prints from after the war produced by the publisher Watanabe Kinjirō and Unsōdō.
Highlight of this exhibition
Cirrocumuli (Mackerel Sky) 【2nd term】
A farmer with a sickle in his hand is looking up at the sky with floating clouds. The expanse of the sky painted with a gradation of pale colors is impressive. This is one of the Shin-hanga prints published by the publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō during its earliest period. Kasamatsu Shirō was only 21 years old and has just began his career as a full-fledged artist at the time in 1919. Watanabe had just started publishing Shin-hanga prints by Kawase Hasui the year before in 1918. Shirō’s young talent was discovered at the early stage of the development of the genre by Watanabe who was in search of a direction of Shin-hanga prints.
Admission
| Adult | 1000 yen |
| University and High school students | 700 yen |
| Junior High School Students and below | Free |
Calendar
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休館日
1,8,15,22,26-28
2021 / 02
1,8,15,22,26-28
| SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT |
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休館日
1,8,15,22
2021 / 03
1,8,15,22
| SUN | MON | TUE | WED | THU | FRI | SAT |
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