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.

Artist: Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei).

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)Street Singers (Ukiyobushi), Shamisen Player and Singer, 1936

$350

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...

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Early 20th Century Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Watercolor, Handmade Paper, Woodcut

Utagawa Toyohiro"Toy Horse Dance" Japanese Woodblock Triptych with Beauties and Mt Fuji, early 1900s

$1,700

H 24 in W 36 in D 0.25 in

"Toy Horse Dance" Japanese Woodblock Triptych with Beauties and Mt Fuji

Located in Soquel, CA

"Toy Horse Dance" Japanese Woodblock Triptych with Beauties and Mt Fuji Vibrant three-panel woodblock print by Utagawa Toyohiro (Japanese,...

Category

Early 20th Century Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Toyohara Kunichika"Enshoku Sanju-roku Kasen" (Thirty-six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on paper, 1881

$475

H 20 in W 16 in D 0.25 in

"Enshoku Sanju-roku Kasen" (Thirty-six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on paper

By Toyohara Kunichika

Located in Soquel, CA

"Enshoku Sanju-roku Kasen" (Thirty-six Enchanting Flowers) Woodblock on paper Elegant woodblock print by Toyohara Kunuchika (Japanese, 1835-1900). Three women are in talking with each other inside, while a man waits outside holding a bag of some kind. The colors in this piece are rich and saturated, primarily blues, greens, and purple. Mat size: 16"H x 20"W Paper size: 14.75"H x 9.88"W Born in 1835, Toyohara Kunichika grew up in the Kyobashi district of Edo in the midst of merchants and artisans. In 1848, at age 13, he was accepted as an apprentice into the studio of Utagawa Kunisada I...

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1880s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Gekko OgataWood Cut on Rice Paper "The Cicada Shell (Utsusemi)" by Gekko Ogata, 1892

$650

H 19.5 in W 15 in D 0.25 in

Wood Cut on Rice Paper "The Cicada Shell (Utsusemi)" by Gekko Ogata

Located in Soquel, CA

Wood Cut on Rice Paper "The Cicada Shell (Utsusemi)" by Gekko Ogata Woodcut is a striking 1892 woodblock print by Meiji-era master Ogata Gekko (Japanese, 1859–1920). It references T...

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Late 19th Century Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Tsukioka Kôgyo"Pictures Of Noh" - 1922 Original Japanese Woodblock Print, 1922

$710

H 24 in W 18 in D 0.5 in

"Pictures Of Noh" - 1922 Original Japanese Woodblock Print

By Tsukioka Kôgyo

Located in Soquel, CA

"Pictures Of Noh" - 1922 Original Japanese Woodblock Print Original Japanese woodblock print by Tsukioka Kogyo (Japanese, 1869-1927...

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1920s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan II by Utagawa Kunisada Edo Japanese Woodblock Print, 1833

$440Sale Price|20% Off

H 21.75 in W 16.75 in D 1.25 in

Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan II by Utagawa Kunisada Edo Japanese Woodblock Print

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Soquel, CA

Kabuki actor Nakamura Shikan II by Utagawa Kunisada Japanese Woodblock Print Wonderful portrait of Nakamura Shikan II, a prominent kabuki actor, in the role of Kisen Hoshi Toyokuni ...

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1820s Realist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Katsukawa ShunshōActor as Samurai - 18th Century Japanese Woodblock Print, c. 1772

$600Sale Price|20% Off

H 19 in W 12.5 in D 0.63 in

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...

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

Materials

Woodcut, Rice Paper

Taiso YoshitoshiThe Boy Botaro and his Nurse Otsuji and a Lotus Pond, 1886

$1,500

H 14.38 in W 19.1 in

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

Utagawa HiroshigeKiyomi Barrier & Seiken Temple Near Okitsu- Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper, c. 1850

$1,550

H 15.5 in W 19.25 in D 1.25 in

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...

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1850s Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)Page from "Spring View in Takanawa" Mid 18th Century Ukiyo-e Print, c. 1845

$760Sale Price|20% Off

H 19 in W 13 in D 0.25 in

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...

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1840s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

Yoshu ChikanobuBeauties on the Beach with view of Mount Fuji

$985

H 14.38 in W 18.9 in

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 ...

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1890s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Mulberry Paper, Woodcut

Utagawa Hiroshige IIKiyomizu Temple, Scenes of Famous Places along Tôkaidô Road - Woodblock on Paper, 1863

$1,200

H 20 in W 16 in D 0.25 in

Kiyomizu Temple, Scenes of Famous Places along Tôkaidô Road - Woodblock on Paper

By Utagawa Hiroshige II

Located in Soquel, CA

Kiyomizu Temple, Scenes of Famous Places along Tôkaidô Road - Woodblock on Paper Full Title: Kyoto: Kiyomizu Temple (Kyô Kiyomizudera), from the series Scenes of Famous Places along...

Category

1860s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Tsukioka KôgyoOne Hundred Prints Of The Noh - 1925 Original Japanese Woodblock Print, 1925

$710

H 24 in W 18 in D 0.5 in

One Hundred Prints Of The Noh - 1925 Original Japanese Woodblock Print

By Tsukioka Kôgyo

Located in Soquel, CA

One Hundred Prints Of The Noh - 1925 Original Japanese Woodblock Print Original Japanese woodblock print by Tsukioka Kogyo (Japanese, 1869...

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1920s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Previously Available Items

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)'Tama Cat', 1989

Sold

H 9.25 in W 13.25 in

'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

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)Nude Before the Mirror

Sold

H 16.74 in W 11.5 in

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

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei)Tama The Cat, 1924

Sold

H 10.24 in W 13.98 in

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.