Saddened by the decline of the Ukiyo-e art form ( Japanese woodblock prints/paintings ) that had fallen into decay as the country embraced modernization in the late Meiji Era (1907), a publisher by the name of Watanabe Shozaburo gathered artists, carvers and printers to create new pieces of art work that would restore the luster of the Ukiyo-e art form.

The movement gained traction over the next decade or so as more publishers participated, and the resulting pieces of art were henceforth called Shin-hanga ( 新版画 – which roughly translates as new revision/edition art works ).

This volume collects one particular body of Shin-hanga work; landscape prints, most of the published by Watanabe, with close to 180 pages of art work.

I find the subdued colors and idyllic compositions of these woodblock landscapes extremely soothing to the eye, and it has a calming, almost therapeutic effect when I look at them. This is an excellent art book to enjoy some of the very best Shin-hanga work in one collection. Highly recommended.

I also suggest the Ukiyo-e art works of earlier masters like Hokusai, Hiroshige as well as Utagawa Kuniyoshi.

“Shin-hanga : A Journey to Longed-for Landscapes 新版画作品集 ―なつかしい風景への旅″ art book details :

– Dimensions – 29.7 x 21 x 2 cm
– Soft cover, 176 pages
– Full color, In Japanese / some English

Buy From Amazon.com | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon FR | Amazon IT | Amazon DE | Amazon ES

You might also be interested in these items :