Ochtend in Beppu 1928

Curator: Good morning. We’re looking at Kawase Hasui’s "Morning in Beppu", created in 1928. This watercolor work now resides at the Rijksmuseum. What captures you immediately? Editor: Oh, the stillness! That indigo twilight… It feels profoundly solitary, almost like a haiku written in shades of blue. Is that the moon reflected on the water? Dreamlike. Curator: Indeed. Hasui was a leading figure in the Shin-Hanga movement, revitalizing Ukiyo-e techniques. Notice the careful construction of the woodblocks to achieve this specific gradation of colour. The materiality is significant; it links the image to a history of mass production. Editor: The layering gives such depth! I get the impression of being in a moment suspended. This bridge, and its juxtaposition with the quiet harbor and anchored boats feels incredibly meditative, like waiting for dawn to break in a silent, ancient world. Curator: The urban is inseparable from nature in these pieces; it's vital to recall Beppu was, and is, a renowned port city, connected through water and by water. Editor: Ports… they're where dreams set sail. A place of hellos and goodbyes. A new adventure begins! What's hidden at the horizon makes my imagination stir like wind in sails, do you understand? Curator: It is, however, crucial to remember that for the production of this kind of image to flourish, certain social and economical circumstances have to coalesce. Its proliferation implies both an available labor force and an eager consuming public. Editor: You bring up fascinating angles! All the material details which feed artistic exploration… What would any creator do without those details to pull out an idea or bring out feeling? Curator: Indeed, art and economics, a dance through time and mediums. I thank you for being here with me today. Editor: I, too. It felt lovely, as if we witnessed a brief quiet moment together.