Japanese Print

Here is another item in my series on paintings, prints and posters I have given to Experienced Goods. This one is a Japanese Woodblock Print by Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) titled Moonlight at Miyajima (1947) It is from the Museum of Art and Archeology at the University of Missouri, and it was part of a show called The Poetry of Nature in Japanese Woodblock Prints, which ran from June 7-August 24, 2008. This makes it easy to know where and when I acquired this print! My daughter, Betsey, and her family were living in Columbia, MO at that time. Her husband, Rob, was Dean of the Department of Music at the University of Missouri and Ellen and I visited them there, and undoubtedly went to this show. ************************************************** Kawase Hasui (May 18, 1883 – November 7, 1957), was one of modern Japan's most important and prolific printmakers. He was a prominent designer of the shin-hanga ("new prints") movement, whose artists depicted traditional subjects with a style influenced by Western art. Like many earlier ukiyo-e prints, Hasui's works were commonly landscapes, but displayed atmospheric effects and natural lighting. Hasui designed approximately 620 prints over a career that spanned nearly forty years. Towards the end of his life the government recognized him as a Living National Treasure for his contribution to Japanese culture.

Moonlight at Miyajima

Kawase Hasui (1883-1957)************** Miyajima (宮島) is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views. While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine island". This is because the island is so closely related to its key shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, in the public's mind. Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water.********************************************** Ellen is returning this evening. She called a bit ago and said she would arrive at about 10:30p.m. We'll stay here at Katie and Savanna's tonight and go home tomorrow. It sounds like she had a good time. Tonight I will watch episode 3 of Ken Burns' film on Muhammad Ali which has been fascinating. I was aware only dimly of his life story, and I've learned a lot. Earlier this afternoon I took a pretty good walk with my poles on nearby Leonard Road. It was close to a mile, round-trip. I'm gradually increasing the distance of my walks. I also completed today's NY Times Spelling Bee and managed to get to the genius level, though it took a while. Tomorrow there will be Centering Prayer in the afternoon and Zohar study in the evening.