Kasamatsu Shiro – Nihon Bridge

Original woodblock print. The first edition of this design was published in 1956. The current print was printed in the Reiwa period (2019 – present).

It was unusual for Kasamatsu Shiro to display modernity. The current print is centered around the Nihon bridge that signifies it however. First constructed there using wood in the 17th century, the surrounding area later become the Nihonbashi district, a hotbed of business activity, as reflected in the back with the tall modern structures. The bridge depicted here was build with stone and steel at the beginning of the 20th century. At the time the print was made, modernity was not allencompassing however, and a closer look reveals a manually driven boat still floating underneath, unaffected by the new world rising above it.

Image size (excluding margins): 36.9 * 24.6 cm (14.5 * 9.7 in).

The print is in excellent condition.

The pictures shown here are from the print itself.

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Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991) was a prolific and famous woodblock artist. When only aged thirteen he started as an apprentice. He could trace part of his artistic lineage back via Kaburagi and Yoshitoshi, connecting him to the great Ukiyo-e masters of the 19th century.

He created many prints in the Shin-Hanga style. Many of these depicted traditional themes like landscapes and temples, but within that Shiro displayed great diversity. His prints in the period of 1952-1960 in this style were very successful. This enabled him to experiment and he started working in the Sōsaku-Hanga (creative prints) movement as well, not only designing but also carving and printing himself.

See an overview of Kasamatsu Shiro's woodblock prints