Bartlett, Charles (1860 - 1940 )
Charles William Bartlett was an English printmaker and painter. He studied painting and etching at the Royal Academy in London before continuing his education at the Academie Julian in Paris. Soon after, Bartlett traveled and worked in Europe alongside fellow artist Frank Brangwyn, who introduced him to Japanese woodblock prints. In 1897, Bartlett was invited to join the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts in France and in 1907 helped found the Société de la Peinture a l'Eau in Paris. In 1913, he traveled to British India, Ceylon, Indonesia, China and Japan. While in Japan in 1915, he met the woodblock print publisher Shozaburo Watanabe. Watanabe published 21 woodblock prints from Bartlett's designs in 1916, as well as another 16 upon Bartlett’s return to Japan in 1919. During his return to England in 1917, Bartlett stopped in Hawaii, where he fell in love with the islands and made Hawaii his permanent home.
Modern Art | Modern Japanese Prints and Paintings
The 20th century saw the emergence of two modern Japanese print movements: Shin Hanga, or “new prints,” and Sosaku Hanga, or “creative prints.” Both sought an identity somewhere between centuries of rich cultural tradition and modern global character. With growing realism, changing techniques, and a newfound international audience, the Shin Hanga movement portrayed familiar Japanese themes through modern eyes. From sensual beauties and expressive actors, to atmospheric landscapes and sensitive nature studies, the principal genres of ukiyo-e reasserted themselves with renewed vigor. The Sosaku Hanga movement emphasized the participation of the artist in every aspect of production. From carving to printing, modern Japanese printmaking adopted a more spontaneous, expressive attitude through the artistic explorations of this movement. Ranging from figural to abstract, Sosaku Hanga flourished after WWII. Explore Ronin Gallery's selection of modern prints and paintings below.
