A City Street in Early Summer
Artist
Kawanishi Hide
(Japanese, 1894 - 1965)
Dateapprox. 1950-1960
PeriodShowa period (1926-1989)
CultureJapanese
MaterialsInk and colors on paper
DimensionsH. 14 5/8 in x W. 11 7/8 in, H. 37.1 cm x W. 30.3 cm
Credit LineAnonymous gift
Object number1992.147
DepartmentJapanese Art
ClassificationsPrints And Drawings
On View
Not on viewA descendant of well-to-do merchant ancestors and a native of the great port city of Kobe, Kawanishi was deeply attached to this city. In this print the artist depicts a lively street corner in the bright sunlight of early summer, re-creating the free and easy atmosphere of the city.
Like Hiratsuka Un'ichi, Kawanishi belonged to the early generation of "creative print" (sosaku hanga) artists; however, the styles of the two artists are vastly different. While Hiratsuka was a master of black and white, Kawanishi developed a unique pictorial style that juxtaposed primary colors in a mosaic-like pattern. Kawanishi's works contain no outlines, just fields of pure, vivid colors and bold black.
Yamazaki Toshinobu
1850-1900
Mukul Dey