There Is Something About Japanese Woodblock Prints,

that I like so much,

these are all from the ukiyoe artist Kawase Hasui (1883-1957), Hasui travelled Japan in search of nostalgic and everyday landscapes, “Zōjō-ji Temple, Shiba, from the series Twenty Views of Tokyo” (1925) Woodcut on paper, S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO. 

“Moon at Magome, from the series Twenty Views of Tokyo” (1930) Woodcut on paper S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

“Kishō, Nishiizu” (1937) Woodcut on paper S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

“Ichinokura at Ikegami, Sunset, from the series Twenty Views of Tokyo” (1928) Woodcut on paper S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

“Komagata Embankment, from the series Twelve Scenes of Tokyo” (1919) Woodcut on paper S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

(The Ferry Port at Tsukishima, from the series Twelve Months of Tokyo) 1921, Woodcut on paper S.WATANABE COLOR PRINT CO.

Born in Tokyo in 1883, Hasui was a prolific and influential artist of the shin hanga, or “new print” movement. He was “inspired by breezes, and spent his days traveling with the sun, clouds, and rain, painting the scenery of all four seasons of Japan. This was also a journey to seek the scenery of old times.” That’s according to the Sompo Museum of Art in Tokyo’s Shinjuku district, which is currently showcasing some 280 of the more than 600 works produced by the artist (on view through December 26, 2021), now this is really neat, the three videos below do a nice job of describing the exhibit, which is broken chronologically into three parts, 

Chapter 1: Hometown of Tokyo and Souvenirs from Travels

Chapter 2: Fame Followed by Slump

Chapter 3: New Ground and Maturity

and if you’re interested in Hasui prints, New York’s Ronin Gallery is currently hosting an exhibition of prints at their gallery but also online that include rare pre-earthquake printings to post-WWII compositions. Many of the artist’s prints and sketches were destroyed in 1923 when the Great Kanto Earthquake devastated Tokyo. “The works that predate this event are extremely scarce and in great demand today,” explains the gallery. “Undaunted, Hasui continued to design prints until his death in 1957, fostering an audience both in Japan and abroad.” I do not know what it is, I just like Japanese woodcut prints so much.