Hanga
Bijin in an Azalea Garden — つつじ庭にあそぶ美人 by Kawase Hasui — Japanese Woodblock print

Bijin in an Azalea Garden — つつじ庭にあそぶ美人

by Kawase Hasui

Medium:
Woodblock print
Image courtesy of
Japanese Art Open Database

Description

This bijin-ga depicts a woman in kimono pausing within a garden dense with blooming azaleas (tsutsuji), an unusual subject for Hasui, who specialized in landscape meisho-e rather than figure prints. The composition likely positions the figure as a mid-ground element between the viewer and the floral mass, with the vivid crimsons, pinks, and whites of azalea blossoms surrounding and partially framing her. The design reflects the broader shin-hanga approach of revitalizing traditional ukiyo-e genres through modern printing techniques and more naturalistic color. The woman's kimono pattern and pose would be carefully coordinated with the seasonal floral setting, a compositional convention in bijin-ga that links feminine beauty with natural transience. This impression is one of several surviving states of the design.

More Prints by Kawase Hasui

More Bijin-ga Prints

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bijin in an Azalea Garden — つつじ庭にあそぶ美人 was created by Kawase Hasui (川瀬巴水).

Bijin in an Azalea Garden — つつじ庭にあそぶ美人 depicts bijin-ga and gardens.