“The wood-block print shows the artist’s true value: his skill as well as his shortcomings, his successes as well as his failures in the work. ”
Yoshida Hiroshi, 1939
Located in a 17th century canal house with Amsterdam School elements, Nihon no hanga is a private museum dedicated to showcase exhibitions created around a collection of 20th century Japanese prints, collected over 30 years by Elise Wessels. During our opening months in May and November, visitors are invited to join guided tours and other events in our stunning museum.
Nihon no hanga collaborates with specialists and museums around the world and our exhibitions have been received favorably by international audiences. The museum strives to further the understanding of modern and contemporary Japanese woodblock prints.
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Cats in Leiden
We might be closed, but our prints can be found at Japan Museum SieboldHuis
We’re currently closed
Due to the coronavirus we have cancelled our May exhibition
Digital Nihon no hanga
Follow us for 100 days of Koizumi Kishio prints
![Wouldn’t it be nice to wear such a light and breezy summer kimono on a hot day like this? 🔥👘 This famous print is by Hirano Hakuhō, but we know little of this Kyoto-born artist. He taught himself nihonga style painting and produced a number of scroll paintings featuring beauties in sumptuous kimono. Hakuhō designed 5 prints for the great publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō between 1932-35.
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The almost translucent texture of her kimono is created by a special printing technique. Watanabe actually encouraged his artists and printers to experiment with their prints, which resulted in a technique where the printing disc (baren) is used on its side while pressure is applied in a circular motion. This leaves marks on the surface of the print, known as ‘baren sujizuri’, and is often utilised to suggest steam or texture on the kimono of this beauty.
But did you know this technique was considered a defect by printmakers not even half a century before this print was made? Visible baren marks were a sign of an inexperienced printer who had exerted too much pressure. Within traditional Japanese prints (ukiyoe) great care was taken to not show these scratches. What do you think of this ‘baren sujizuri’ technique?
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Hirano Hakuhō 平野白峰 (1879–1957)
Summer kimono (Beppu) (Natsu sugata [Beppu] 夏姿[別府])
Date: Summer 1936
Signature: Hakuhō
Artist’s seal: Hakuhō
Publisher: Watanabe Shōzaburō
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