Hasui Kawase (1883-1957)
Hasui Kawase was born son of a merchant family. In 1908, he became a student of Kiyokata. In 1910, Kiyokata gave Hasui his artist’s name. One of the foremost 20th-century Japanese landscape artists, Kawase Hasui produced over 600 woodblock prints during a span of 40-years. Hasui collaborated with the Shinhanga (New Prints) publisher Watanabe Shozaburo (1885-1962), who wanted to revitalize the Japanese woodblock print that was embodied in the works of Hokusai (1760-1849) and Hiroshige (1797-1858). Together, Watanabe published the majority of his works which brought great acclaim to both, while helping revive the woodblock print. Kawase Hasui was a keen traveler who was intrigued by the use of light in different seasons and landscapes. Famous for his landscapes, Hasui set himself apart as the master of landscape prints by his masterful snow scenes. In 1956, Kawase Hasui's lifelong contribution to his craft was acknowledged by the Japanese Government by naming him as a 'Living National Treasure'.
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