About the Artwork
Kamezaki, Bishū is a Japanese woodblock print by Kawase Hasui, produced in the early twentieth century as part of the shin-hanga movement. Set in the coastal town of Kamezaki in the former Bishū region (present-day Aichi Prefecture), the work captures a quiet maritime settlement shaped by tide, weather, and everyday rhythm.
The composition unfolds along a narrow waterfront, where modest buildings cluster close to the shore and the water stretches outward in calm horizontal bands. Boats rest lightly against the edge, their forms simplified and still, while the sky and sea merge through softened tonal transitions. Hasui’s palette is restrained - cool blues, muted greys, and earthen browns - creating an atmosphere that feels clear yet subdued. Nothing in the scene demands attention; instead, the eye drifts slowly, guided by reflection and distance.
Hasui does not present Kamezaki as a site of industry or movement, despite its coastal character. There is no visible labour, no urgency of trade or departure. The town appears momentarily paused, suspended between tides. Architecture and water share equal weight, bound together by light and quiet repetition. This balance reflects Hasui’s enduring interest in places defined less by event than by mood.
Today, Kamezaki, Bishū resonates as a meditation on peripheral landscapes - towns shaped by routine rather than spectacle. In contrast to images of bustling ports or monumental coastlines, the print values understatement. Its modern relevance lies in its attention to modest places and unremarkable moments, reminding viewers to seek excitement and beauty beyond the sensationalisation of places on social media.
About the Artist
