#japanese print

[the-cricket-chirps]

Kawase Hasui

Pine Beach at Miho

1931

[microgeneration]

MacPaint ad, 1982

[crazyfox-archives]

"Night in Kyoto" by Sekino Jun'ichirō (関野凖一郎), 1980

[heaveninawildflower]

Camellia and Bird (Japanese, 1827) by Andō (Utagawa) Hiroshige (1797-1858).

Woodblock print.

Image and text information courtesy NYPL Digital Collection.

[moda365]

Aoyama Masharu ‘Exotic Flower’ circa 1950s.

Aoyama Masharu (1893 - 1969) was a Japanese printmaker. Studied ink painting at Tokyo School of Fine Arts and served in Imperial Household Museum until his retirement.

Known for carving the blocks for the prints, he was working in the sosaku-hanga (“creative prints”) movement, which began in the early 20th century and advocated self-drawn, self-carved, self-printed works.

[dogandcatcomics]

Credit: Morikazu Maeda (Japan, 1932-).

[batwynn]

The skeletons, the rain, and the moon.

[engicrafts]

In this 1970 photograph, rows upon rows of unglazed porcelain rest patiently on wooden shelves, awaiting their transformation in the fiery depths of the kiln. This is the world of Hasami ware, where tradition and industry seamlessly intertwine.

Nestled in Nagasaki’s Hasami Town, this pottery lineage dates back over 400 years, yet by the mid-20th century, it had adapted to the needs of a rapidly changing world. Teapots, flasks, and bowls sit in orderly ranks, their forms refined and practical, destined for homes both in Japan and overseas. Unlike other historic kilns that remained rooted in handmade traditions, Hasami ware embraced both artisanal craftsmanship and mass production, striking a balance that allowed it to thrive in the post-war era.

What sets Hasami ware apart is its approachability. Durable yet delicate, it has long been favored for everyday tableware, its designs ranging from classic blue-and-white patterns to sleek modern forms. The efficiency of production never sacrifices beauty—each piece carries the marks of its origins, shaped by skilled hands before passing through the rigorous process of high-temperature firing.

As you look at this quiet, almost meditative scene, you can almost hear the gentle clinking of pottery being arranged, the distant hum of the kiln being prepared, and the anticipation of artisans waiting to see how the fire will complete their work. It’s a moment frozen in time—one that reflects not just the past but the enduring legacy of Hasami ware today.

Would you choose a piece of Hasami ware for your daily table? What do you look for in the perfect ceramic vessel—functionality, history, or the subtle beauty of handmade craft?

[constructies]

Woodblock prints by Nishijima Katsuyuki

[takunwilliams]

the great wave sketch by Takun Williams 2024

[the-cricket-chirps]

Hishida Shunso

Black Cat

1910

[a-bit-of-japanology]

Ancient Capital Festival - Okamoto Ryusei (1987)

"Koto Matsuri Zu" ("Ancient Capital Festival"). It took 7 months to finish this elaborate design. The family name was hidden in the background. This print was shown at the 1992 CWAJ print show in Toyko.

[crazyfox-archives]

A 19th-century print of Eleven-Faced Kannon Bodhisattva (十一面観音菩薩) flanked by the guardian deity Bishamonten (毘沙門天) and the wrathful wisdom king Fudō Myōō (不動明王) at Kegonji Temple (華厳寺) in Ibigawa, Gifu Prefecture, thirty-third temple in the Thirty-three Temple Western Pilgrimage Circuit

Woodblock print, ink on paper, with hand-applied color from the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

[classic-asian-art]

Yoro Waterfall, Mino Province -  Katsushika Hokusai

[moda365]

Kiyoshi Saitō ‘Flower and a Girl’ 1974

Kiyoshi Saitō (1907 - 1997) was a celebrated Japanese printmaker.

Characterized by their distinctively graphic flatness, Saito’s works often feature recurring visual motifs endemic to Japanese landscapes, such as rural architecture, kimono-wearing women, and pinewood forests.

Saito’s work is known for fusing artistic Eastern and Western ideas and styles. He was inspired and influenced by Western artists including Paul Gauguin, Henry Matisse, and Pablo Picasso while also keeping to the long tradition of Japanese wood-block printmaking.

[dogandcatcomics]

#repost @fumiyanagimoto (Tokyo, Japan). I am a fan of the cat and dog representation in the work of this Japanese contemporary printmaker and ceramicist.