A Wave of Petals - The Beguiling Woodblock Prints of Shiro Kasamatsu

If you’re a lover of Shin-Hanga, Ukiyo-e and other vintage Japanese woodblock art, then the name Shiro Kasamatsu may be familiar to you. With beguiling colours, tranquil settings, and often the presence of unexpected wildlife; Shiro Kasamatsu was able to capture the beauty of Japan in a stark, otherworldly way.

Kasamatsu was one of the leading proponent of the Sosaku-Hanga style of woodblock printing. Conceived in the early 20th century, this movement stressed the agency of the woodblock artist as the “sole-creator”, moving away from the collaborative nature of the Shin-Hanga, or “new prints” style, which required close cooperation and coordination between the artist, engraver, and publisher.

We have many Shiro Kasamatsu prints, and some of my favourite prints of his include the enchanting “Into The Forest”, the wickedly blue “Cat Among Leeks”, the mystical “Statue of the Goddess Kannon”, and the blissfully green “Spring in the Campus”, but one of his works stands out for its beauty and inspired creativity, and that is “A Wave of Petals”, where a group of Japanese carp are depicted in swirling waters covered by a beautiful patins of fallen cherry blossom petals. It is gorgeous, stunning, and quite unlike any other Japanese woodblock print you have seen. 

Please peruse our Japanese Collection, including all of Shiro Kasamatsu’s work here, and use code “SHIRO20” to receive 20% off any of his prints!

My best to you,

Kazi (9 Art Prints)