The Cultural Tutor氏による、20世紀最大の芸術家、最後の浮世絵画家、川瀬巴水の紹介（英文）

The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Who was the greatest artist of the 20th century? People talk about Picasso and Dalí, but here's a name you probably haven't heard: Hasui Kawase, the last master of Japanese ukiyo-e. It sounds oddly specific, but no other artist in history was so good at depicting the weather... pic.twitter.com/YWwlkXHvWK

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

There's a world in which Hasui Kawase never existed. He was born as Bunjiro Kawase in 1883 and though art was his passion, Bunjiro was supposed to take over his father's business. Until his sister and her husband eventually took over instead... pic.twitter.com/ljsDGRZsM0

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

So Bunjiro was free to study painting, first under the Western-style artist Okada Saburosuke and then the traditional Japanese-style artist Kaburagi Kiyokata. And it was Kiyokata who, according to custom, gave the young man his own artist's name — Hasui. A legend was born.

The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Hasui became involved in the "shin-hanga" (new prints) movement, working with the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo. Whereas some Japanese artists pursued western methods alone, Hasui sought rather to preserve Japanese methods and combine them with elements from western art.

The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Ukiyo-e is the broad name for the traditional Japanese art of woodblock printing. It was a multi-staged, collaborative process involving designer, engraver, printer, and publisher. Hokusai and Hiroshige, both active in the 19th century, are the most famous ukiyo-e artists. pic.twitter.com/VLDPCvDhBd

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Hasui started designing ukiyo-e, focussing almost exclusively on landscapes. He travelled around Japan, preferring to see things for himself rather than base his designs on photographs or the work of other artists. And it shows — he captured the essence of every place he went. pic.twitter.com/RJD3abAsB6

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Many Japanese artists of his generation had been influenced by the Impressionists in Europe — who had themselves originally been influenced by the likes of Hiroshige and Hokusai! Hasui had Impressionist traits, especially in his near-perfect sensitivity to the effects of light. pic.twitter.com/iQzjCIYnAY

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

But he took this further. Notice how you can immediately tell the time of day and identify the weather in any of his prints. This sounds simple, but it really isn't. To do so requires both scrupulous observation of the real world and absolute command of light, colour, & shape. pic.twitter.com/SOTxSPIoK9

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Rain is notoriously difficult to depict in art, but for Hasui it offered no trouble whatsoever. With a few pale lines and careful control of lighting he gives the impression either of a gentle shower or violent downpour. It sounds silly, but Hasui's rain always *looks wet*. pic.twitter.com/hrdory4LqF

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Hasui could also conjure the heat of midday or the warm glow of an autumn afternoon. By paying such careful attention to the real scene before him and then simplifying its elements, Hasui was able to create highly evocative landscapes which feel, somehow, both real and timeless. pic.twitter.com/tUt0rA0eFW

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Hasui, though a man who evidently loved bright colours, was equally at home in the darkness of night. A sole lighted window, silhouetted mountains, glinting reflections — he knew which details contained the essence of any given scene. You can almost *hear* Hasui's landscapes. pic.twitter.com/g3Sxp1Ax3i

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

Look at the subtlety of his sunrises & sunsets — the gentle gradation of colour and shadow is enough to make them feel more like dawn or dusk than any photograph ever could. He even worked with printers to create different versions of the same scene at different times of day. pic.twitter.com/pV0me37JJB

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

It was for his snow prints that Hasui became, perhaps understandably, most famous. Though rooted in the tradition of Hiroshige and Hokusai, Hasui blended just enough Western influence — especially in lighting and modelling — to create a style and atmosphere never before seen. pic.twitter.com/iMMIwkOrZl

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

The result of Hasui's mastery over light and weather is that his prints are intensely atmospheric; the viewer gets a visceral sense of the landscape before them. But it isn't merely "realistic" — Hasui imbues these scenes with mood, mystery, beauty, and delight. pic.twitter.com/QsJlKzgZIs

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

This is partly because Hasui was also a master of composition; he knew how to make an image "feel right". Whether castles, valleys, dockyards, bridges, or mountains, Hasui always found the right angle to give us a perfectly evocative snapshot of the place he was visiting. pic.twitter.com/UaBj4tmALV

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

And it also has something to do with Hasui's tendency to add, at most, one or two solitary figures to his prints. Whether working, travelling, bathing, or strolling, these people transform Hasui's landscapes into something *more* — quiet stories unfolding before our eyes. pic.twitter.com/GrlLp2PebI

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

This is how Hasui described his creative process: "I do not paint subjective impressions. My work is based on reality. I can not falsify but I can simplify." Unlike many other 20th century artists, Hasui was interested in outward reality, and he wanted to convey its beauty. pic.twitter.com/0lPWuqRO5m

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

There is a serenity and purity to his art which few other artists in the 20th century ever matched; we become lost in his worlds... and we *want* to become lost in them. You can see why Hasui was proclaimed a National Living Treasure in Japan toward the end of his life. pic.twitter.com/aQwfqtjyY2

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The Cultural Tutor @culturaltutor

And so, with his love for nature, his sensitivity to light and colour, his impeccable sense of composition, his command of atmosphere, and his poetic sensibilities, Hasui Kawase surely deserves to be mentioned in any conversation about the greatest artists of the 20th century. pic.twitter.com/omFcxj3BKj

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Madhur Sharma @MadhurGovindam

Hasui Kawase (1883-1957) was a renowned Japanese woodblock print artist known for his exceptional landscapes and scenes of traditional Japanese life. Here are some facts about him: 1. Early Life: Hasui was born in Tokyo, Japan, and displayed an interest in art from a young age. He initially studied Western-style painting before transitioning to the traditional Japanese art form of ukiyo-e woodblock printing. 2. Mentorship: He studied under the famous shin-hanga woodblock artist Shinsui Ito, who had a significant influence on Hasui's style and technique. 3. Subjects: Hasui's work primarily focused on landscapes, especially scenes of serene countryside, snow-covered landscapes, and historic landmarks. His prints often depicted tranquil and nostalgic views of Japan. 4. Shin-Hanga Movement: Hasui was a prominent figure in the shin-hanga (new prints) movement, which aimed to revive and modernize traditional woodblock printing techniques. Unlike traditional ukiyo-e artists, shin-hanga artists like Hasui emphasized realism and attention to detail. 5. Collaborations: He collaborated extensively with publishers and carvers, including Watanabe Shozaburo, who played a pivotal role in popularizing Hasui's work in the Western world. 6. Recognition: Hasui's prints gained international acclaim, especially in the United States and Europe, where they were exhibited and collected. He received numerous awards for his art. 7. Travel: Hasui embarked on extensive travels throughout Japan, capturing various regions and their unique landscapes in his prints. His travels provided him with a wide range of subject matter for his artwork. 8. Catalogs: He produced several series of woodblock prints, such as "Twenty Views of Tokyo," "Collection of Scenic Views of Japan," and "Souvenirs of Travel." These series showcased his versatility and mastery of the medium. 9. Legacy: Hasui's work is highly collectible and sought after by art enthusiasts and collectors worldwide. His contributions to the shin-hanga movement continue to be celebrated, and his prints remain iconic representations of early 20th-century Japan. 10. Death: Hasui Kawase passed away in 1957, leaving behind a significant body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences with its beauty and evocative depiction of Japan's landscapes and culture.

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Mr Commonsense @fopminui

Story: In a mother’s womb were two babies. One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?”The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.” “Nonsense,” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?” The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.” The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.” The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.” The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover, if there is life, then why has no one ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery, there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.” “Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.” The first replied “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?” The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her, this world would not and could not exist.” Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn’t exist.” To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above.” Maybe this was one of the best explanations of the concept of GOD. – this lovely parable is from Your Sacred Self by Dr. Wayne Dyer 🙏

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Mitchell Wilson ⚡️ @mitchelldwilson

It's amazing how much goes into great art. Some have an eye for what reality really is. They get themselves cleared like putting Windex on their soul, and then they translate the world as they see it with every spec of detail intentionally counted. Useful for any pursuit.

Mellon @Aphado_nin

@culturaltutor It really is always very exciting topics with which you inspire us here. Merci!

Humble Flow @HumbleFlow

@culturaltutor My favorite Kawase quote: "I believe that in every landscape, there is a hidden beauty waiting to be discovered and revealed through art."