Sunset at Minakami, Gunma, Joshu, 1958

by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)

Current Status

Sunset at Minakami, Gunma, Joshu, 1958 by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)

Original Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991) Japanese Woodblock Print
Sunset at Minakami, Gunma, Joshu, 1958

Shiro - Born in Tokyo, Shiro Kasamatsu began studying art at a young age with the painter Kaburagi Kiyokata. He completed his first woodblock designs for Watanabe Shozaburo in 1919 after the publisher saw his paintings on exhibit. Shiro designed shin-hanga prints for Watanabe for many years, becoming well known for his romantic landscapes of famous landmarks and his scenes of traditional Japanese life. From 1952 to 1960, he created more than one hundred woodblock designs for the Kyoto publisher Unsodo. He also experimented with sosaku hanga or creative prints starting in the late 1950s, carving and printing his own designs. Shiro is regarded as one of the top shin-hanga woodblock print artists in Japan.

Comments - Beautiful winter scene of a village street in Minakami at night, snow falling steadily over through the gray sky as evening falls. The road curves around to the left, with a warm yellow glow coming from the lighted windows of the houses at right. Steep mountains covered with pines trees fill the background. A lovely, quiet, evocative scene.

Signed - Shiro Kasamatsu in English in margin (with chop), in Japanese with red "Shiro" artist's seal within image
Publisher - Unsodo, with publisher's seal in left margin, later edition from original blocks

Artist - Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)

Image Size - 14 3/8" x 9 1/2" + margins as shown

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report;

Sunset at Minakami, Gunma, Joshu, 1958 by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)
Sunset at Minakami, Gunma, Joshu, 1958 by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)