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
10,159
2,807
2,503
1,399
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
Japanese Beauties Enjoy a Full Moon
Japanese Beauties Enjoy a Full Moon

Japanese Beauties Enjoy a Full Moon

By Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III)

Located in Burbank, CA

"Sun, Moon and Stars". Three beauties enjoy a full moon on the veranda of a teahouse or restuarant. The woman on the left kneels and adjusts her lavishly printed kimono. The beauty in the center has her hair down, and behind her is a screen against which shadows are beautifully silhouetted, which adds an air of mystery. The seated woman on the right is perhaps a geisha, as we see a shamisen lying next to her. Before her is a tray with an assortment of foods. One may surmise that the beauties are being compared to the sun, the moon, and the stars. On the left we glimpse a full moon shining over the peaceful bay, and boats at harbor. Original first edition Japanese color woodblock print triptych...

Category

1840s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Woodcut, Mulberry Paper

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

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

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

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

Japanese Beauty Admiring Kirifuri Waterfall
Japanese Beauty Admiring Kirifuri Waterfall

Yoshu ChikanobuJapanese Beauty Admiring Kirifuri Waterfall, 1898

$940Sale Price|20% Off

H 14.02 in W 18.67 in

Japanese Beauty Admiring Kirifuri Waterfall

By Yoshu Chikanobu

Located in Burbank, CA

A beauty turns to admire the Kirifuri Waterfall in Nikko Province. She holds the handle of an umbrella and wears fashionable clothing that is beautifully printed. This series pairs f...

Category

1890s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Handmade Paper, Mulberry 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

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

Kabuki Actor in Water Lily Robe with Samurai Sword - Japanese Woodblock Print
Kabuki Actor in Water Lily Robe with Samurai Sword - Japanese Woodblock Print

Kabuki Actor in Water Lily Robe with Samurai Sword - Japanese Woodblock Print

By Utagawa Toyokuni

Located in Soquel, CA

Kabuki Actor in Water Lily Robe with Samurai Sword- Japanese Woodblock Print Finely detailed woodblock by Utagawa Toyokuni (Japanese, 1769-1825). A kabuki actor ("Master Haranyuki Sawamura") is standing on stage with mountainous backdrop, wearing a robe in a water lily pattern. He is wearing a samurai sword. Presented in a gold colored frame with a silk mat. Frame size: 20"H x 14.25"W Image size: 14"H x 9"W Utagawa Toyokuni (Japanese, 1769-1825) was born in Edo, the son of Kurahashi Gorobei, a carver of dolls and puppets...

Category

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

Materials

Ink, Rice 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

Face of a Woman, Figurative Abstract Pop Art Woodcut Portrait on Handmade Paper
Face of a Woman, Figurative Abstract Pop Art Woodcut Portrait on Handmade Paper

Face of a Woman, Figurative Abstract Pop Art Woodcut Portrait on Handmade Paper

By Paula Walzer

Located in Soquel, CA

Face of a Woman, Figurative Abstract Pop Art Woodcut Portrait on Handmade Paper Bold pop art woodcut print on handmade paper of a woman's face in black and red, repeated in 4 vertical registers like a film strip, by Monterey Bay artist Paula Walzer...

Category

Late 20th Century Pop Art Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Paper, Handmade Paper, Woodcut

Dierdre, Surrealist Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin
Dierdre, Surrealist Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin

Dierdre, Surrealist Woodcut Print on Rice Paper by Leonard Baskin

By Leonard Baskin

Located in Long Island City, NY

This woodcut print was created by American artist Leonard Baskin. Baskin is well known for his somewhat grotesque, intricate, surreal drawings and natural subject matter. This print ...

Category

1950s Surrealist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Rice 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).