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Karigasaka Mountain Pass 1927

Art Appreciation

This evocative print captures a serene and mysterious winter landscape under a full moon, revealing the artist's masterful use of traditional Japanese woodblock techniques. The snow-covered terrain, delicate bare branches, and dense dark green foliage create a harmonious contrast that draws the eye through the composition toward the distant layers of softly rolling mountains. The moon, perfectly round and glowing, breaks through a lively scatter of clouds, casting subtle shifts of light and shadow across the scene. There’s a palpable sense of stillness and quietude, yet the clouds’ movement suggests a gentle pulsation of life beneath the calm.

The artist’s meticulous layering technique and controlled gradation of blues and greens produce a vivid depth and atmosphere, allowing the viewer to feel the crispness of the cold night air and the timelessness of the natural world. This work exemplifies the very best of early 20th-century shin-hanga prints, celebrating nature’s transient beauty through a lens of both modern sensibility and traditional Japanese aesthetics. It invites not just a visual contemplation but a soulful connection, whispering stories of winter’s subtle power and the quiet grandeur of moonlit landscapes.

Karigasaka Mountain Pass 1927

Hasui Kawase

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Created:

1927

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Dimensions:

2131 × 3136 px

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