The atmospheric woodblocks of Shirō Kasamatsu

Apr 07, 2024

Good morning/afternoon/night!

A new issue of The Attic is ready to be explored, and is full of beauty.

Today a sophisticated and atmospheric woodblock artist from Japan, a colourful poster of Brazil, a cute Dutch leaflet, a UPA short for adults, an adorable wooden toy and a series about growing up in the 2000s.

✧An artist: Shirō Kasamatsu✧

Shirō Kasamatsu (1898-1992) was a Japanese woodblock artist from Tokyo.

He began studying at a young age at Kaburagi Kiyokata school and completed his first woodblock designs in 1919 for Shōzaburō Watanabe, after the publisher saw his paintings on exhibit. That was the start of many more designs to come published by Watanabe. Unfortunately, during the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the blocks of all Kasamatsu prints were lost when fires destroyed Watanabe’s print shop.

Kasamatsu became well known for his romantic landscapes of famous landmarks and scenes of traditional Japanese life. Below you’ll find some of my favourites.

What first caught my eye from Kasamatsu’s work, was the peacefulness and sense of atmosphere in all his designs. It’s like I can smell the rain and blossoms and can feel the first rays of Sun on a morning at Ubaku.

Morning at Ubaku, Hakone 1953 by Shiro Kasamatsu (1898 - 1991) — KASAMATSU Shirō - 1953 - Morning at Ubaku, Hakone

KASAMATSU Shirō - 1953 - Rice Planting // Harvesting

I particularly found his paintings of rain to be utterly beautiful. Can you also hear the sound of droplets hitting the ground when watching these?

Pine in Rain — KASAMATSU Shirō - 1938 - Pine Tree in the Rain

Pagoda in Evening Rain — KASAMATSU Shirō - 1932 - Evening Rain Yanaka Pagoda, Tokyo

KASAMATSU Shirō - 1953 - Toshogu Shrine in Ueno

And look at this one just after the rain, a Spring day scenery with the puddles of water reflecting the trees. Sublime.

✧An ad: Brazil✧

1950s - Brazil. Braniff International Airways

✧A leaflet: Ripolin✧

✧A short: Rooty Toot Toot✧

Here’s a UPA short directed by John Hubley in 1951, I’m loving the animation and the stylization of the characters, and of course, the music by jazz musician Phil Moore.

✧A toy: Birds✧

More things I’ve enjoyed lately

✸ I was told that I’d like Samuel. And I loved it.

It’s a short series about a boy entering adolescense in the 2000s. I think it’s been released in Catalan, Spanish and French. I loved the Catalan version.

The episodes are around 4 minutes long so you may want to pace yourself or you’ll watch the whole series in one go :)