Back to gallery
Matsushima 1936

Art Appreciation

This serene woodblock print captures a tranquil seascape at dusk, where a small sailboat drifts gently across reflective waters towards a rocky islet adorned with lush pine trees and a charming traditional pavilion. The delicate gradation of twilight blues melts into soft creams in the sky, with scattered clouds drifting above, infusing the scene with a calm, peaceful aura. The technique, a hallmark of Shin-Hanga movement, showcases meticulous carving, subtle layering of colors, and a measured balance between detailed forms and open space—especially evident in the contrast between the dark, pocked stones and the placid water.

The composition feels beautifully composed yet effortlessly natural, drawing the viewer’s eye from the foreground boat, through the intricate foliage and rocks, up to the quaint structure perched atop. The gentle ripples and the soft reflection of the sail in the water add a dynamic, almost whispering rhythm to the stillness. Rooted in the 1930s Japan, this print evokes the nostalgic beauty of coastal Matsushima, celebrated for its pine-covered islets, while emphasizing a timeless appreciation for nature’s quiet majesty and human presence harmoniously intertwined.

Matsushima 1936

Hasui Kawase

Category:

Created:

1936

Likes:

0

Dimensions:

4656 × 6400 px

Download:

Related artworks

Spring Moon at Ninomiya Coast 1932
Pyongyang Muldongdae in Korean Scenery Series 18940
Snow at Kōnuma, Mito
Lake Kizaki in Shinshu 1941
Twenty Views of Tokyo: Kanda Myojin Shrine Grounds, 1926
Travel Notes I (Souvenir from the Journey, First Collection) Kohama Horikawa 1920
Winter in Kamigamo, Kyoto
Fujiya Hotel, Miyamashita, Hakone
Evening Moonlight at the Temple
Rain at Shinobazu Pond
Kiso no Suhara, Japanese Scenery Collection
Nikko Waterfall 1936
Twenty Views of Tokyo: Asakusa Kannon After Snow
Travel Notes II: Tango no Miyazu
Nobidome Heirinji Temple 1952