Saru Gallery
       Japanese Prints & Japanese Paintings

Biography Hasui, Kawase (1883 - 1957)

During his artistic life Kawase Hasui had more than 600 prints published, most of which by Watanabe Shōzaburō. His first print appeared in 1918. An important watershed in his career was the Great Kantō Earthquake of 1 September 1923, when sketchbooks, woodblocks and unsold prints were lost in the flames. Hasui was Watanabe's best-selling artist, and his works are still widely collected. Interesting is the lack of artistic development in his career: there is a striking resemblance between early and late works. Still, it is equally noteworthy that the quality of his work is so consistent. His work is still being produced, and it pays to carefully heed the publication date (early editions naturally being rarer and more expensive).

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