The artwork titled “Snow at Shirochi,” created by Hasui Kawase in 1925, is a notable piece within the Shin-hanga art movement. This genre of cityscape art exemplifies the tranquility of an urban scene blanketed in snow, capturing the serenity and picturesque beauty characteristic of Hasui’s work.
In the artwork, a serene winter scene unfolds in a quiet neighborhood blanketed by a thick layer of snow. The rooftops and trees are heavily laden, with snowflakes gently falling from a pale, overcast sky. Utility poles and bare branches starkly contrast against the soft, snowy background. A narrow snow-covered street draws the viewer’s eye towards the horizon, lined with traditional Japanese houses. The presence of a few solitary figures, one holding an umbrella, adds a human element to this tranquil scenery, emphasizing the calm and silence of a snowy day. The subtle color palette, dominated by cool blues and whites, enhances the peaceful ambiance of the scene.
