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Bijin Print by Ito Shinsui
Pupil of the Eye - detail
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Among the artists of the shin hanga art movement, Ito Shinsui is the one who represents the traditional theme of beautiful women, called "bijin-ga" ("bijin" = beautiful women, and "ga" = image) like nobody else. In 1970, two years before his death, he was honored with the Order of the Rising Sun. And in 1952 his art work had been declared an "Intangible National Treasure" by a government commission.

Apprentice at the Age of Twelve

Shinsui Ito was born to a wealthy family. But when his father's business went bankcrupt, the young boy was forced to begin an apprenticeship at the age of 12 with a printing company. There he discovered his interest for the fine arts and began to attend evening classes with the painter and printmaker Kaburagi Kiyokata.

One day in 1916 the restless print publisher Shozaburo Watanabe attended an exhibition showing works of Kiyokata Kaburagi's students. This was the beginning of a life-long cooperation of Watanabe and Shinsui.

Shinsui Ito designed prints mainly for Watanabe - bijin prints but also landscapes. But Shinsui worked also with other publishers: with Isetatsu, the Yomiuri Newspaper Company, and with Katsumura.

The Merits of the Woodblock Printers and Carvers

Bathing in Early Summer
Detail
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Shinsui was a typical representative of the shin hanga art movement. He only designed the prints - either as drawing sketches, or watercolors or paintings. Skillful carvers and printers then carved the woodblocks - one for each color - and printed the sheets from these blocks. The skill of these people was maybe even more important for the success of an artist's work than the design. Although traditional Japanese printmaking had practically come to a standstill at the beginning of the twentieth century, the quality of the craftsmanship of carvers and printers had reached a level never seen before during the 18th or 19th century.

Bijin Print Series

• 12 Forms of New Beaties - "Shin Bijin Juni Sugata"
• First Series of Modern Beauties - "Gendai Bijinshu Dai-isshu"
• Second Series of Modern Beauties - "Gendai Bijinshu, Dai-ni Shu"

Gallery of Bijin Prints by Shinsui Ito

Kuchibeni - Rouge

Kuchibeni - Rouge
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From the series, "Gendai Bijinshu Dai-isshu" (The First Series of Modern Beauties) "Kuchibeni". A beauty is applying rouge on her lips in front of a mirror.

Morning After Snow

Morning After Snow
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

This print has an extra large size. It was published by Watanabe in 1939.

Bathing in Early Summer

Bathing in Early Summer
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

From the series, "Shin Bijin Ju-ni Shi" (New Twelve Images of Beauties), "Shoka no Yoku" (Basing in the Early Summer): The background was printed using the new printing technique (showing the circular movement of "baren") to simulate the abstract, post-impressionistic brushworks. The white sketchy outlines instead of the customary black key-block lines also make the figure appear very translucent and airy.

The printing technique used for the background is called sujizuri. Paul Binnie, one of the best masters of contemporary woodblock prints has used this technique for some of his own bijin wooblock prints.

Fireworks

Fireworks
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

From the series, "Gendai Bijin Dai-nishu; Hanabi" (Second Series of Modern Beauties; Fireworks) Beauty is sitting on a bamboo bench and enjoying the fireworks on a summer night.

This print was published as a limited edition of 150 copies. Limited editions were the exception in Japanese printmaking before world war II. The publisher Watanabe knew of this Western concept and made a few experiments on limited editions. But it is basically a concept in contrast to the long tradition of Japanese understanding of woodblock printmaking.

Contemplating the Coming Spring

Contemplating the Coming Spring
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

From the series, "Shin Bijin Juni Sugata" (New Twelve Images of Beauties) "Haru Chikaki Omohi" (Contemplating the Coming Spring). Publisher was Watanabe.

Pupil of the Eye

Pupil of the Eye
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

From the series, "Gendai Bijinshu, Dai-ni Shu" (The Second Series of Modern Beauties) "Hitomi" (Pupil of the Eye). This design was published as limited edition of 250 copies. Publisher was Watanabe.

Early Spring

1930-1931

Early Spring
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

Senshun" (Early Spring) Young lady with fur and blue cap. A rare newspaper insert. The insert was commissioned by Yomiuri Newspapers in a limited edition of 150 copies.

Beauty at Shinbashi Station

Beauty at Shinbashi Station
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

"Nanaju-nen Mae no Shinbashi-eki" (Shinbashi Station as it was Seventy Years Ago). A beauty with fashionable umbrella at Shinbashi station.

Drizzling Rain - Shigure

Drizzling Rain - Shigure
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

"Shigure" (Drizzling Rain). The first edition was published by Ise-tatsu. This is a later edition probably printed in 1970's.

After Washing Her Hair

After Washing Her Hair
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

From "Gendai Bijinshu Dai-nishu" (The Second Series of Modern Beauties), "Araigami" (After Washing Her Hair". Publisher was Watanabe.

Woman in Long Undergarment

Woman in Long Undergarment
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

"Nagajuban" (Woman in Long Undergarment). A woman in kimono, seen from behind, doing her hair. Publisher was Watanabe.

Yamato Nadeshiko

Yamato Nadeshiko
by Ito Shinsui 1888-1972
copyright protected

"Yamato Nadeshiko" (Ideal Japanese Woman). A woman in light summer kimono is taking a rest. She has a round fan with pink Dianthus (Japanese name of this flower is "Yamato Nadeshiko", also.) pink flowers on her hand. Publisher was Watanabe.

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