Dusk at Asō 1936

Hasui Kawase made this woodblock print called *Dusk at Asō*. It depicts a figure walking toward the shore in a darkening landscape. Kawase was a leading figure in the *shin-hanga* or ‘new print’ movement in early 20th century Japan. *Shin-hanga* revitalized traditional *ukiyo-e* printmaking at a time when it was threatened by the rise of photography and Western art. This movement was very self-conscious about its relation to Japan’s past as it looked to define a modern Japan, and the history of its institutions. The movement kept traditional techniques alive while incorporating contemporary subjects and Western influences like perspective and atmospheric effects. Here, we see the soft glow of the setting sun on the water and sky, with the silhouetted forms of trees and buildings creating a sense of depth. Understanding such prints fully requires archival research, looking into the printmaking guilds, the art schools and the publications of the time. In doing so, the meaning of art emerges as something deeply rooted in its own historical moment.