Tabi Miyage Dai 1 - Shu Mutsu-Tsuta Onsen 1919

This is "Tabi Miyage Dai 1 - Shu Mutsu-Tsuta Onsen," a woodblock print made by Hasui Kawase, likely sometime in the first half of the 20th century. Kawase belonged to the Shin-Hanga movement, which revitalized traditional Japanese printmaking for a modern audience. Note how the scene depicts a humble, rural hot spring inn on a rainy night. Shin-Hanga prints, like this one, were marketed as nostalgic images of Japan for urban dwellers. Consider this in light of the country's rapid industrialization and westernization at the time. The artistic institutions of Japan were also grappling with how to maintain tradition in a world that was changing rapidly. For a deeper understanding, one could research the history of Japanese tourism and leisure culture. Also, looking into the network of artists, publishers, and patrons involved in the Shin-Hanga movement would enrich one's understanding of the image's significance. Ultimately, this print reminds us that art is not just about aesthetic beauty, but also about the social and economic forces that shape its creation and reception.