Assault
1937
You might know Kawase Hasui for his dreamy, peaceful moonlit landscapes, but this 1937 piece is a jarring departure into the grim reality of war. Titled 'Totsugeki' (Assault), it depicts the stark, dark silhouettes of soldiers charging over a barren, cracked hill, their bayonets and swords cutting through a hazy, textured sky. Created during a highly militarized period in Japan, this woodblock print trades the artist's usual serene beauty for raw, aggressive movement, showing how even traditional art forms were swept up in the propaganda of the era.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper