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 - Wonderful shin hanga image of visitors on the steps at the entrance to Asakusa Kannon Temple, an enormous red paper lantern painted with calligraphy hanging above. A dramatic composition from an intriguing viewpoint, with beautiful rich color in harmonious tones of red and gray. A bold design that would make a terrific framed presentation.

Signed - Shiro, with artist's seal "Shiro saku"
Publisher - Watanabe, 7 mm seal, Heisei seal, later edition from the original blocks

Artist - Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991)

Image Size - 14 1/4" x 9 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report;