Kaoru Kawano (1916–1965) was a Japanese printmaker and one of the leading artists of the sōsaku hanga ("creative print") movement. Born in Hokkaidō, he studied at the Kawabata Art School in Tokyo before developing a highly personal style that blended traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern, expressive forms. Kawano is best known for his evocative woodblock prints depicting children, women, animals, and traditional masks. Characterized by simplified compositions, bold lines, and subtle textures, his works often convey a sense of innocence, introspection, and quiet emotion. His prints gained widespread international recognition during the 1950s and 1960s and remain among the most collected examples of modern Japanese woodblock printing.