Gone to Croatoan

This woodblock print, designed in late 1855 (Ansei 2), is a prime historical masterpiece of the namazu-e (catfish print) genre by an anonymous Edo-period artist. Following the catastrophic Ansei Great Earthquake that devastated the shogunal capital in November 1855, hundreds of these unauthorized, satirical prints flooded the underground market. They functioned simultaneously as protective amulets, expressions of public anxiety, and witty social commentary on the forced redistribution of wealth. In traditional Japanese mythology, earthquakes were believed to be caused by a colossal subterranean catfish thrashing beneath the earth whenever the deity Kashima let down his guard.

This woodblock print by the Shin-hanga (New Print) virtuoso Shiro Kasamatsu (1898–1991), is titled "Shinshu Shirahone Onsen" (Shirahone Hot Spring in Shinshū)., 1935, Japan. The artwork captures the historic, hidden mountain onsen (hot spring) of Shirahone, nestled deep in the Japanese Alps of Nagano Prefecture (historically Shinshū). Famed for its opaque, milky-white thermal waters rich in calcium and magnesium, the spring is presented here as an idyllic, secret sanctuary.

repost

This woodblock print is a legendary masterwork by the Shin-hanga (New Print) virtuoso Shiro Kasamatsu (1898–1991). Titled "Iizaka" (depicting the historic hot-spring onsen town of Iizaka in Fukushima Prefecture). It captures the profound, quiet solitude of a mountain hot-spring village wrapped in winter twilight.

Early 20th century, Geisha wearing a wisteria-motif kimono. Image hand-colored.

The binturong of the perfect fit

It’s called projection.

The binturong of regalness

The binturong of trying to get mama’s attention