Early Summer Rain 1932

Curator: I always find that even rainy scenes can evoke such profound quiet. Look at "Early Summer Rain" from 1932 by Hasui Kawase, housed here at the Minneapolis Institute of Art. The cool greens and blues immediately wash over you. Editor: You're right, it does have this strangely soothing quality despite being, well, dreary. The water almost has a luminous feel to it. Tell me more about Kawase, why he chose this muted palette. Curator: Kawase was a master of Shin-hanga, a movement reviving traditional ukiyo-e woodblock printing but with modern sensibilities. This piece beautifully captures a cityscape, but instead of bustling activity, we get contemplative stillness. The palette mimics that dampening effect rain has on colors and sounds, but the human element still shines through. Editor: I notice that, with the figure holding the yellow umbrella – that bold splash of color definitely pops, drawing your eye amidst the subdued tones. Is this intended to represent hope, perhaps, or perseverance? Curator: Possibly both. In Japanese iconography, color often symbolizes mood, but it can be multivalent, layered in meaning. Here, the yellow of the umbrella contrasts against the prevalent greens, suggesting resilience, the quiet persistence of life even when skies are overcast. Notice too, how all the vessels create a web, showing the communal space where life develops. Editor: It really makes me appreciate the subtlety of the Japanese aesthetic. It avoids the dramatic pronouncements we often see in Western art and creates an aura of introspection instead. How long would creating a work like this actually take using traditional methods? Curator: Significant planning and several blocks actually, given the complex gradients, which are key to achieving atmosphere. Each color needs its own block. Editor: That does sound labor-intensive! I came in initially seeing just a simple scene, now I recognize all these elements working together in concert. Curator: Indeed. Art opens those secret doorways to deeper observation. A rainy day suddenly holds so much potential for exploration.