While our images are electronically watermarked, the antique prints themselves are not.

Bamboo and the Crescent Moon by Eiichi Kotozuka, early printing
17 3/4 by 11 1/2 inches
SHN503 $225

For a long time, we have admired and collected works from Asia.  We are pleased to offer this collection of wood block prints from great artists of Japan: Kawase Hasui, Shiro Kasamatsu, Shoda Koho, Eijiro Koyobashi, Imao Keinen, Kasa Matso, and Koson Ohara.

Shin Hanga, or "new prints," incorporated Western tastes and eye for beauty into traditional Japanese art. Their popularity is due to the efforts of Shozaburo Watanabe, a keen businessman who gathered young artists around him to learn the new European concepts of perspective, light and shade.

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) is one the great masters of the Shin Hanga movement. Shortly before his death, the Japanese government declared his art work a Living National Treasure, the highest honor bestowed in modern-day Japan.  Hasui was the master of landscape prints. Famous are his night scene prints and the designs showing snowfall or rain. The artist's landscape prints hardly ever show people, partially because he was nearsighted and needed to wear thick glasses to see details. People also would not stand still long enough for him to work. He traveled frequently to create his art, sketching out a scenic landscape before him then adding color later. On his return visits to Tokyo, Watanabe's wood carvers would make the blocks for printing.

Shiro Kasamatsu (1898-1991) was 13 when he began to study traditional Japanese painting and printmaking, and his immense talent was recognized at various exhibitions. Western art collectors appreciated his romantic landscapes depicting Japanese life and landmarks. His impressions of Shinobazu Pond were so popular that they were reprinted well into the 1940s.

Shoda Koho (1875-1925) created graceful depictions of garden scenes and Japanese women in woodblock prints.

Imao Keinen (1845-1924) specialized in Kacho-ga (Flower and Bird prints) with realistic detail. He studied calligraphy and the painting styles of several masters, and developed his own eclectic style. In1888 he became professor at the Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting, in 1904 became a member of the Art Committee of the Imperial Household, and in 1919 he became a member of the Imperial Art Academy.

Koson Ohara is the best-known printmaker for Kacho-e, another form of prints of birds and flowers. Ironically, an American colleague convinced Koson to create woodblock prints in the traditional style. His flower and bird prints in tanzaku form were highly popular abroad in the United States during his lifetime.

We accept credit cards & PayPal. Washington state residents pay Washington state sales tax. Shipping for this item is $8.95. Items can be combined to save on postage. Our environment is smoke free. We pack professionally using only new materials. All items are beautifully wrapped and suitable for sending directly as gifts. You may return any item within 7 days if not satisfied. To order, you may call us at 1-888-PANTEEK, fax or email.