| Displayed below is a rare pre-war (circa 1931) print series of gorgeous 'bijin' (beautiful women) wearing Takasago-dyed kimonos, by the artist Ito Shinsui. Takasago dyeing is a special fabric dyeing process developed in Japan that dates to the 1600s. Prints from this series are machine printed or possibly lithographic items, and they are the finest examples of pre-war machine printing I've seen to date. According to a seal in the lower margin of each print they were printed using a patented 'KI Banton' platemaking process, so probably an advanced technique for that era. Each scene is printed on washi paper (contains the usual chain lines) and without close inspection it is difficult to determine that these are not woodblock prints. Interestingly, it would appear that none of these scenes are copied from Shinsui's other works (woodblocks or paintings), so I assume that Shinsui composed these especially for this series. Each print is untitled, so where possible I've taken titles from similar woodblock print examples of Shinsui works. Also displayed are some other artworks by Shinsui, at the bottom of the page.
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| 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 0 - Grace Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: 1931, early summer
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 1- Hanging Up A Lantern Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 10- Summer Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 11- Behind The Screen Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 11- Behind The Screen (variant) Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 13- Summer Fan Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 14- Summer Night Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 16- Fireworks Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 17- Summer Flowers Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 18- Bijin in Yukata with Fan Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 19- Contemplation Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 20 Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 3- Fireflies Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 4- Fireworks Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 5- After A Bath Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 6- Hanging a Mosquito Net Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 7- Flowers Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931 |
Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: No. 9-Tanabata Festival Series: 100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos Date: c. 1931 |
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| Other artworks by Shinsui | |||||||||||||||||||
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: Bijin in Snow Date: 1930s/40s/50s
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: Bijin Washing In Autumn Date: 1920s/30s
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: Bijin Washing In Autumn Date: 1930s/40s
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Artist: Shinsui, Ito (1898-1972) Title: Evening Storm (in Summer) Date: 1930s/40s/50s
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