Kawase Hasui, Spring Rain at the Gokoku Temple, impression 1933-1945, plate 1932, color woodblock, Museum purchase, Marjorie Schechter Bronfman '38 and Gerald Bronfman Endowment for Works on Paper 2020.20.1 (Left). Hiroshi Yoshida, Moraine Lake, 1925, color woodblock, Museum purchase, Marjorie Schechter Bronfman '38 and Gerald Bronfman Endowment for Works on Paper 2020.20.5 (Right)

The Davis Museum recently purchased five prints by Kawase Hasui and Yoshida Hiroshi, the first examples of shin-hanga (new prints) in the collections. Starting in the early 20^th century, shin-hanga combined Western artistic elements, such as a focus on light and atmosphere made popular by Impressionism, with traditional Japanese themes and production, emulating the styles of popular ukiyo-e (floating world) and meisho-e (famous places) prints. In the wake of the country’s rapid Westernization, shin-hanga portrayed a romantic and nostalgic view of traditional Japanese culture from a modern view point, and catered to the demand for Japanese prints in the United States and Europe.

Born in Tokyo in 1883, Kawase Hasui studied both Japanese and Western-style painting before focusing on printmaking. He depicted idealized landscapes of the countryside and rural villages that he visited throughout Japan, highlighting the beauty of nature and historic sites. His print Spring Rain at the Gokoku Temple showcases the atmosphere created by the rain and towering pine tree, with the namesake temple acting as a backdrop.

Like Kawase, Yoshida Hiroshi created prints based on travel. Born in 1876 in the former castle town of Kurume, Yoshida was based in Tokyo throughout his artistic career. He travelled extensively and designed prints featuring sites from the United States, India, and Egypt. Moraine Lake is from his series “The United States” and depicts the majestic beauty of the lake in Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. These five works greatly enrich the collection of 18th and 19th-century Japanese prints at the Davis Museum, extending our knowledge of shifts in style and production that took place in the 20th century.

Other works not pictured:

Kawase Hasui, Tagonoura Bridge (Togonurabashi), 1930, color woodblock, Museum purchase, Marjorie Schechter Bronfman '38 and Gerald Bronfman Endowment for Works on Paper 2020.20.2

Hiroshi Yoshida, Toshogu Shrine, plate 1937, color woodblock, Museum purchase, Marjorie Schechter Bronfman '38 and Gerald Bronfman Endowment for Works on Paper 2020.20.3

Hiroshi Yoshida, Yasaka Shrine, 1935, color woodblock, Museum purchase, Marjorie Schechter Bronfman '38 and Gerald Bronfman Endowment for Works on Paper 2020.20.4