Kawase Hasui is now a highly acclaimed artist, not only in Japan but also around the world.
Hasui traveled throughout Japan during the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa eras, creating outstanding landscape paintings and earning the high praise of being a "poet of travel." A passionate traveler, Hasui felt "infinite sympathy for the nameless, ordinary, and overlooked 'unexpected scenes' (Hayashi Nozomu)."
This book explores the places depicted in Hasui's paintings (Ibaraki, Tokyo, and other locations). While various discoveries are presented, the main takeaway is that there is much to be learned from Hasui's landscapes that can only be understood by actually standing in those places. This is arguably the first attempt to unearth Hasui's works from his local area.
Sixty-five years have passed since Hasui's death. Traces of his landscapes still remain. The world Hasui saw, the spirit of that time, and his thoughts all come alive. As a result, you will gain a deeper understanding of Hasui's paintings.
Where exactly did he paint these pictures? This is a report of travel and exploration, primarily in Ibaraki, but also in Tokyo and Otaru. It's like a mystery novel, and a fascinating read. It's also packed with know-how for various discoveries. Why not take this book in hand and embark on your own journey of exploration?
Recommendation by Nozomu Hayashi (author and bibliographer): "Identifying these nameless landscapes one by one is a truly significant achievement."
Written by Nozomu Hayashi (recommendation), Noboru Suzuki, Tomoyuki Someya, Toshiyuki Igarashi, Tamiyo Kashiwabara, Yoko Kato, Miho Koiwa, Keiko Sukegawa, Keizo Nemoto, Junko Hirayama, and Fumiko Fukazawa. Includes previously unpublished sketches of Hasui's Tokyo after the Great Kanto Earthquake. Presented in full color.
