Back to gallery
Winter Moon, Dohyōbara

Art Appreciation

Bathed in the glow of a crisp winter moon, this woodblock print captures the serene yet haunting beauty of a moonlit landscape. The silhouettes of bare trees stretch skyward, their intricate branches like veins against a deep cobalt blue that gradually lightens toward the horizon. The artist's masterful use of gradation—known as bokashi—creates a seamless transition in the sky that feels almost tactile. The luminous full moon, perfectly positioned among the trees, serves as the composition's anchor, illuminating the scene with soft, ethereal light.

Below, a small pond mirrors the moon’s glow, adding a subtle shimmer that balances the darker hues in the foreground. The meticulous attention to detail in the gnarled branches and the texture of the marshy ground showcases traditional Japanese ukiyo-e techniques. Emotionally, the scene evokes quiet contemplation and a profound sense of solitude, inviting the viewer to step into this tranquil moment suspended in time. This work is not just a landscape; it’s an exquisite meditation on nature's stark beauty during the winter season, brilliantly fused with both artistic precision and poetic sensibility.

Winter Moon, Dohyōbara

Hasui Kawase

Category:

Created:

1931

Likes:

1

Dimensions:

2124 × 3012 px

Download:

Related artworks

Morning at Daikon Riverside, Tokyo
Modern Viewpoint, Pyongyang, Korea
Kyoto Chion-in Temple, Kansai Series
Sanpōji Pond (Shakujii) 1930
Evening Glow at Yanaka
Lake Chuzenji, Utakigahama, 1931
Full Moon Island at Shirahama
Enshu Shinichi Town 1931
Travel Notes II: Takamatsu Castle in Sanuki 1921
Snow at Kōnuma, Mito
Snow at Daishoin Temple, Hirosaki
Travel Notes II: Hazy Night (Miyajima) 1921
Hachinohe Fukakubo 1933
Travel Notes II (Second Collection of Travel Souvenirs) Kasuga Shrine, Nara, 1921