Skip to main content

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Japanese, 1871-1945
Born in Tokyo in 1871, Hiroaki Takahashi was working as an artist in an official capacity at an incredibly young age. After an early apprenticeship with his uncle, Matsumoto Fuko (who awarded the young boy the name Shôtei), Takahashi was hired by the Imperial Household Department of Foreign Affairs to copy designs for ceremonial objects. By the age of 18, Shôtei was a co-founder of the Japan Youth Painting Society, and by 1907 he had been recruited by Shōzoburō Watanabe to produce prints for his Shin Hanga movement. The Shin Hanga ("New Print") movement served to satisfy the widespread demand in the Western world for the export of traditional Ukiyo-e prints in the style of masters like Hiroshige. Shôtei enjoyed tremendous success in this endeavor, however, it was cut devastatingly short in 1923. On September 1st of 1923, the Great Kanto Earthquake, also known as the Tokyo-Yokohama earthquake of 1923, struck the Tokyo metropolitan area without warning with a magnitude of 7.9. Up until that point in time it was the worst natural disaster recorded in the history of earthquake-prone Japan. The earthquake, which is said to have lasted up to ten mintues, caused a tsunami, a rotational wind burst with a burning core called a "fire whirl," and extensive firestorms, which quickly spread across the main island of Honshū. Watanabe's facility was reduced to ashes, and the inferno took every single woodblock with it. Lucky to have survived the devastation, Shôtei, now having added the name Hiroaki, spent the rest of his life recreating his lost woodblocks, as well as creating a handful of new designs. There is some speculation that impressions of woodblocks with the kanja characters reading Shôtei, versus Rakutei, may indicate pre-earthquake impressions versus post-earthquake impressions, printed from a block recreated by the artist after his own design. The signature and title on this work would have been added in English by an assistant in preparation for its export to the West. Despite a persistent bit of misinformation that Shôtei died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, he actually died of pneumonia in February of 1945, at the age of 74.
to
1
Overall Width
to
Overall Height
to
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
10,625
2,826
2,496
1,409
1
Artist: Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei).
Street Singers (Ukiyobushi), Shamisen Player and Singer

Street Singers (Ukiyobushi), Shamisen Player and Singer

By Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)

Located in Middletown, NY

Watanabe Shozaburo, 1936. Woodblock in colors on handmade mulberry paper, Koban 182 x 120 mm, full margins. With the Shôtei artist seal in red ink, upper right. Signed "Shotei" and titled in English on the matrix in graphite. With the "Made in Japan" export stamp and the Watanabe catalog number stamp 179, both in blue ink, on the bottom sheet edge, verso, as issued. Adhered to a card stock matrix with deckle edges, as issued. A beautiful pre-war impression of this serene and peaceful scene, good gradient inking and luminosity in the lantern. Printed by hand with cherrywood blocks. *Marc Kahn, Shotei catalog S10; Watanabe 179 Born in Tokyo in 1871, Hiroaki Takahashi...

Category

Early 20th Century Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Woodcut

Related Items
Kiyomi Barrier & Seiken Temple Near Okitsu- Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper
Kiyomi Barrier & Seiken Temple Near Okitsu- Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper

Kiyomi Barrier & Seiken Temple Near Okitsu- Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper

By Utagawa Hiroshige

Located in Soquel, CA

Kiyomi Barrier & Seiken Temple Near Okitsu - Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper Woodblock print of boats in a harbor by Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). Originally publish...

Category

1850s Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Stage 48 of the 53 Stages of the Tokaido - Japanese Woodblock on Rice Paper
Stage 48 of the 53 Stages of the Tokaido - Japanese Woodblock on Rice Paper

Stage 48 of the 53 Stages of the Tokaido - Japanese Woodblock on Rice Paper

By Utagawa Hiroshige

Located in Soquel, CA

Stage 48 of the 53 Stages of the Tokaido - Japanese Woodblock on Rice Paper Woodblock print of clothing vendors by Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-1858). Originally printed in 183...

Category

1830s Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Page from "Spring View in Takanawa" Mid 18th Century Ukiyo-e Print
Page from "Spring View in Takanawa" Mid 18th Century Ukiyo-e Print

Page from "Spring View in Takanawa" Mid 18th Century Ukiyo-e Print

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Soquel, CA

Page from "Spring View in Takanawa" Mid 18th Century Ukiyo-e Print Left page from the triptych print "Spring View in Takanawa" by Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) (Japanese b. 1786 d...

Category

1840s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

Actor as Samurai - 18th Century Japanese Woodblock Print
Actor as Samurai - 18th Century Japanese Woodblock Print

Actor as Samurai - 18th Century Japanese Woodblock Print

By Katsukawa Shunshō

Located in Soquel, CA

Actor as Samurai - 18th Century Japanese Woodblock Print Woodblock print depicting an actor, possibly Nakamura Denkuro II, as a samurai. The actor stands with his sword unsheathed a...

Category

Late 18th Century Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

Mitate of a Daimyo's Procession Crossing Ryogoku Bridge - Woodblock Print
Mitate of a Daimyo's Procession Crossing Ryogoku Bridge - Woodblock Print

Mitate of a Daimyo's Procession Crossing Ryogoku Bridge - Woodblock Print

By Keisai Eisen

Located in Soquel, CA

Mitate of a Daimyo's Procession Crossing Ryogoku Bridge - Woodblock Print Woodblock print of a procession by Keisai Eisen (Japanese, 1790–1848). Terrific triptych of a procession of...

Category

Early 19th Century Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

The Boy Botaro and his Nurse Otsuji and a Lotus Pond
The Boy Botaro and his Nurse Otsuji and a Lotus Pond

The Boy Botaro and his Nurse Otsuji and a Lotus Pond

By Taiso Yoshitoshi

Located in Burbank, CA

The boy Bôtarô watches his nurse Otsuji haul a bucket of water from the well. From the kabuki play Osanago no adauchi. Most interesting is the lush backdrop of lotus flowers and pump...

Category

1880s Other Art Style Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni
"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni

"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni

By Utagawa Toyokuni

Located in Soquel, CA

"Various Himochi" Wagashi Festival Japanese Woodblock Print by Utagawa Toyokuni Rare oversized early 19th century 5-tiered woodblock by Utagawa Ichiyosai Toyokuni, (Japan, 1769-1825), a Japanese lord and wife oversee a sekku festival of food, music, and dolls or toys. '"oshi" is the first day of “Mi (Snake)” in the third month of the lunar calendar. This day, known in modern Japan as the Girls' Festival, originated in China as a form of purification ceremony in which water and drinking peach blossom wine were used to drive away evil. Many kinds of hishi-mochi appear in this picture of hina ningyo (dolls associated with Hinamatsuri, or the Girl’s Day) from Omochae. The custom of eating special dishes at events throughout the year and at milestones in people's lives has existed since ancient times. This paragraph specifically focuses on the annual event called sekku, and life events that involve eating sweets. Joshi is the first day of “Mi (Snake)” in the third month of the lunar calendar. This day, known in modern Japan as the Girls' Festival, originated in China as a form of purification ceremony in which water and drinking peach blossom wine were used to drive away evil. According to the Keiso saijiki, in ancient China, on the third day of the third lunar month, people ate “ryuzetsuhan,” which is the juice of gogyo (Jersey cudweed) mixed with rice flour and nectar. In Japan, there is a record in the Heian period history book Nihon Montoku tenno jitsuroku [839-5] that it was an annual event to make kusamochi using gogyo on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, which may have been influenced by Chinese customs. The tradition of eating kusamochi on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar continued after that. By the Edo period, however, hishimochi had come to be used as a sweet to serve on the third day of the third month. A picture of a hishimochi is included in the Morisada manko , which we mentioned in Part 1. According to it, hishimochi in the Edo period were often three layers of green-white-green instead of the now common red-white-green. However, it is possible to see from our collection that not all hishimochi were made in this way. Omochae published in 1857, is a good example. Omochae is a type of ukiyoe print...

Category

1820s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada III (1848-1920) Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print "Portrait Of Samurai"
Utagawa Kunisada III (1848-1920) Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print "Portrait Of Samurai"

Utagawa Kunisada III (1848-1920) Ukiyo-E Woodblock Print "Portrait Of Samurai"

By Utagawa Kunisada III

Located in New York, NY

Title: Portrait Of Samurai Medium: Woodblock Print Style: Ukiyo-e Size: 13 1/2"" x 9 1/2"" Frame Size: 18 1/2"" x 14 1/2"" Signature: Kunisada Provenance: Collection from E...

Category

Early 20th Century Other Art Style Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Washi Paper, Woodcut

Beauties on the Beach with view of Mount Fuji
Beauties on the Beach with view of Mount Fuji

Beauties on the Beach with view of Mount Fuji

By Yoshu Chikanobu

Located in Burbank, CA

Shichirigahama, Sagami Province. A beauty in the foreground waves to her young companions, who run towards her on the beach. The beauty at left wears a western-style golden ring. We ...

Category

1890s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru - One of a Diptych Original Woodcut Print
Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru - One of a Diptych Original Woodcut Print

Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru - One of a Diptych Original Woodcut Print

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Soquel, CA

Kumasaka Chōhan to Ushiwakamaru is a Japanese Ukiyo-e print created between 1848 and 1854 by artist Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786-1864). The print is a Diptych, and is part of the...

Category

1850s Realist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Ôkubo Hikozaemon Protects the Hidden Shogun Triptych
Ôkubo Hikozaemon Protects the Hidden Shogun Triptych

Ôkubo Hikozaemon Protects the Hidden Shogun Triptych

By Taiso Yoshitoshi

Located in Burbank, CA

“War Chronicles of Osaka” (Osaka gunki no uchi). Okubo Hikozaemon, raising his sword, protects the hidden Tokugawa shogun from the spear of Gorô Matabei Mototsugu in a moonlit fores...

Category

1880s Other Art Style Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

Previously Available Items
'Tama Cat'
'Tama Cat'

'Tama Cat'

By Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)

Located in Santa Cruz, CA

Signed, upper left, in kanji, 'Sanjiokina Hiroaki' with stamp below, 'Shotei' for Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (Japanese, 1871-1945) and dated upper left in kanji, 'Taisho 13, June' (June 1926). Publication stamped, lower right, in hiragana, 'Watanabe' and titled, 'White Cat, Tama'. Artist: Takahashi Hiroaki (Shōtei) (Given) Piece Name: 白猫(たま)(White Cat, Tama) Date: Taisho 13, June (1924, June) Publisher's impressed stamp, lower left for Watanabe Shozaburo. This Heisei period impression hand-printed from the original wood blocks by the original publisher Watanabe Color Print Co. circa 1989. Note the extensive use of gauffrage (blind embossing) used to depict the cat's fur. Takahashi Shotei...

Category

Late 20th Century Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Paper, Woodcut

Nude Before the Mirror
Nude Before the Mirror

Nude Before the Mirror

By Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)

Located in Burbank, CA

Sometimes titled “Makup before the Mirror”, we see a modern girl (moga) seating herself in front of her mirror while drying her nude body with a towe...

Category

1920s Showa Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Mulberry Paper, Color, Woodcut

Tama The Cat
Tama The Cat

Tama The Cat

By Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)

Located in Burbank, CA

A white cat eyes the viewer from a seat of comfort. The black background has been printed in the style that shows the swirling marks of the printing baren, done deliberately to offer depth to the design.The blindprinting (gaufrage) is very pronounced in the white fur. As there is the Japanese seal...

Category

1920s Showa Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Woodcut

Takahashi Hiroaki (shotei). art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). in handmade paper, paint, paper and more. Not every interior allows for large Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). art, so small editions measuring 5 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Kono Bairei, Yuji Hiratsuka, and Mikio Watanabe. Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $350 and tops out at $350, while the average work can sell for $350.

Artists Similar to Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei).