Watanabe realised that the golden-age (mid 1700s–1800s) tradition of ukiyo-e printmaking needed to be adapted to modern life – or abandoned. Japanese graphic artists responded to the challenge, radically transforming pigments, paper, light, lines, and space. But subjects, such as kabuki actors and famous landmarks, changed more subtly.
The wider world was enchanted. We hope you too enjoy our recently acquired shin-hanga.
Ko te whakatau a Watanabe, me hakahou te mahi mātātuhi ukiyo-e mō te ao hou – me whakarere rānei. Ka whakautua te karanga e ngā ringatoi, ka tahuri rātou ki te whakahāngai i ngā kano, i te pepa, i te aho, i te rārangi me te wāhi ki ērā o ngā toi o mua. Heoi, ka āta huri ngā kaupapa, mai i ngā kaiwhakaari kabuki me ngā tūtohu whenua rongonui.
Ka mīharo te ao whānui. Ko te tūmanko ka whakawaia hoki koe, e ā mātou taonga hou – ko shin-hanga.
