Shin-Hanga: The softer side of Japan

Cherry and Castle — Yoshida Hiroshi (1939)

Through pinterest, I went on a little tangent and discovered something rather amazing! Someone pinned this cool Japanese print and I went foraging after it. So here goes:

After the decline of the Edo/Meiji period of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints, there came the inevitable revival in the early 20th century. This became the known as the Shin-Hanga (new print) period which flourished from 1915-1942, resuming briefly after WWII. They were designed to appeal to Western tastes giving a nostalgic, romanticised view of japan. And so, they were primarily exported overseas, never finding much fame at home. However, Shin-Hanga became immensely popular in America, so much so that there were two major exhibitions in the 30s. 

What I like most about them is the warmer colour palates and how they're just less stuffy than Edo period prints. Not to say that Hokusai and Hiroshige prints aren't absolutely beautiful or that I don't love classic Japanese prints, but there's just something about Shin-Hanga that's just softer and hard to describe ― as lame as that sounds.

For more on Shin-Hanga visit: Wikipedia, Jacquesc, and artelino.

Misty Evening At Shinobazu Pond, Tokyo — Kasamatsu Shiro (1932)

Sunset At Tomonotsu, Inland Sea — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1940)

Ueno Shinobazu Pond — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1939)

Heirinji Temple Bell — Yoshida Toshi (1951)

 Tengu Rock At Shiobara —Kawase Hasui (1950)

Red Temple — Asano Takeji (1931)

Evening Moon On Yodo River — Asano Takeji (1934)

Heirinji Temple — Kasamatsu Shiro (1962)

Summer Moon At Miyajima — Tsuchiya Koitsu (1936)

Moonlit Night At Miyajima — Kawase Hasui (1947)

What a Wonderful World

The best $10 I ever spent!

A giant freaking squid! Oh, what amazing cross-hatching!!!

My favourite illustration in the whole book

An actor portraying royalty with fake nails

Thomas Edison producing electricity

Giant Centipede

Rhabdosphere? Haven't got a clue, maybe I'll read this section!

Leaf Insects

Not the most PC book either

Explanation of how photographs are produced

A Sponge skeleton 

Tattooed Japanese servant

Simply put, this is the best $10 I've ever spent! Worst $10 being every Showbag I've ever bought in my entire life. Again, I found "The World of Wonders" at the UWA Save the Children book sale. This amazing book was written in 1889, and not only is it filled with beautiful illustrations, it's a fantastic read and quite funny/non-PC in parts too. It even refers to tribespeople savages!


What I really love is how it explains everything from photographs to fossils in a time when the world was still filled with mystery and these amazing discoveries weren't widely known. What makes it so special is that most reference books these days are written in a neutral way, this book however, is not. You could very easily imagine an extremely English, middle-aged, pompous scholar narrating this book! Here's a funny little passage from the Tattoo section:


The practice of tattooing the skin has probably, at one time or another, been universal throughout the world. We still, however, occasionally see the school-boy disfiguring or adorning his arms and hands by rude tattooings, of which he is sufficiently proud—at least until, having arrived at years of discretion,  he sees the folly of his ways.  Our sailors too, are often tattooed with various designs symbolical of their calling. 


I know I keep harping on about it, but I can't believe I managed to find something this amazing! And for only $10!