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
8,922
2,810
2,504
1,340
1
Artist: Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei).
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
"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

"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...
Category

1880s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Kabuki Actor with Pine-Patterned Robe - Japanese Woodblock Print
By Utagawa Toyokuni
Located in Soquel, CA
Kabuki Actor with Pine-Patterned Robe - Japanese Woodblock Print Finely detailed woodblock by Utagawa Toyokuni (Japanese, 1769-1825). A kabuki actor is standing on a wooden deck, wearing a robe with a pine-needle pattern. He is holding a sword and a staff. In the background, tree branches hang down from out of frame. Presented in a gold colored frame with a silk mat. Frame size: 20"H x 14.25"W Image size: 14"H x 8.5"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 Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Shin-machi Bridge at Hodogaya - Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper
By Utagawa Hiroshige
Located in Soquel, CA
Shin-machi Bridge at Hodogaya - Japanese Woodcut Print on Rice Paper Woodblock print of travelers on a bridge by Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese, 1797-185...
Category

1850s Impressionist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Rice Paper, Woodcut

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

Japanese Original Woodblock Print
Located in Soquel, CA
Japanese Original Woodblock Print Harunobu Suzuki (né Hozumi) (Japanese, 1724 - 1770) Presented in a black mat. Mat: 16"H x 12"W Paper: 12"H x 9"W I...
Category

18th Century Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Japanese Original Woodblock Print
Japanese Original Woodblock Print
$507 Sale Price
35% Off
H 16 in W 12 in D 1 in
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

"First Horse Day, 1896" - Chiyoda Palace - Japanese Woodblock by Chikanobu Yoshu
By Toyohara Chikanobu
Located in Soquel, CA
"First Horse Day, 1896" - Chiyoda Palace - Japanese Woodblock by Chikanobu Yoshu Colorful and expressive court scne by Toyohara Chikanobu,"Yoshu" (Japanese, 1838-1912). This is the r...
Category

1890s French School Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

Deutzia Flowers: The Wife of Kasamori - Original Woodblock Print
Located in Soquel, CA
Deutzia Flowers: The Wife of Kasamori - Original Woodblock Print Deutzia Flowers: The Wife of Kasamori, from the Series "Beauties of the Floating World Associated with Flowers" by S...
Category

1760s Edo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Woodcut, Ink, Rice Paper

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 ...
Category

1820s Realist Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei). Art

Materials

Printer's Ink, Rice Paper, Woodcut

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

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

Previously Available Items
'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
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
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).

Recently Viewed

View All