Shiro | Shibu Hotspring, Nagano

Kasamatsu Shiro (1898-1991)

Shiro Kasamatsu studied art with the painter Kaburagi Kiyokata beginning when he was very young, focusing at first on portraits of beautiful women. Watanabe Shozaburo saw his paintings in a show in 1919 and added him to his stable of Shin Hanga stars.

Shiro quickly gained renown for his landscapes of famous landmarks — always with a romantic vision — and his scenes of traditional Japanese life. Later, up until 1960, he worked with the Kyoto publisher Unsodo, creating more than 100 designs.

One of the last Shin Hanga designers, Shiro eventually experimented with sosaku hanga — creative prints — in which the artist carved and printed his own designs.