Woodblock Prints by Ito Shinsui

Bijin-Ga and Landscape prints

Ito Shinsui Hanging Up The Mosquito Net First Series of Modern Beauties 1929, Limited edition 180/250

Ito Shinsui Early Spring Sold

Ito Shinsui Snow (Lithograph) Limited edition 258/280

Ito Shinsui Three Thousand Years Limited edition 163/250

Ito Shinsui Autumn Full Moon Second Series of Modern Beauties 1931, Limited edition 162/250

Ito Shinsui Snow Snow Moon Flower Series 1935 (large kuchi-e)

Ito Shinsui Bijin Contemplating 1930s (kuchi-e) Sold

Ito Shinsui Bijin Playing Karuta 1930s (kuchi-e)

Ito Shinsui Shuttlecock (Lithograph) Limited edition 258/280

Ito Shinsui Snow 1935, January Sold

Ito Shinsui Snow Snow Moon Flower Series 1935 (large kuchi-e) Sold

Ito Shinsui Pet Dog 1934 (large kuchi-e)

Ito Shinsui Reading a Letter 1921

100 Figures of Beauties Wearing Takasago Kimonos

Rare pre-war (circa 1931) series of gorgeous 'bijin' (beauties) wearing Takasago-dyed kimonos, by 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.

Ito Shinsui #1- Hanging Up A Lantern 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #3- Fireflies 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #4- Fireworks 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #6- Hanging Mosquito Net 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #7- Flowers 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #9- Tanabata 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #10- Summer 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #11- Behind the Screen 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #13- Summer Fan 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #14- Summer Night 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #16- Fireworks 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #17- Summer Flowers 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #18- Lady in Yukata 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #19- Contemplation 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #20 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui Grace 100 Figures of Beauties (?) (Machine printing) Sold

Ito Shinsui #18- Lady in Yukata 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Ito Shinsui #7- Flowers 100 Figures of Beauties (Machine printing)

Shinsui Ito No. 1- Hanging Up A Lantern c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 1- Hanging Up A Lantern c. 1931 Sold

Shinsui Ito No. 19- Contemplation c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 19- Contemplation c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 9-Tanabata Festival c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 10- Summer c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 13- Summer Fan c. 1931 Sold

Shinsui Ito No. 13- Summer Fan c. 1931 Sold

Shinsui Ito No. 17- Summer Flowers c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 17- Summer Flowers c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 0 - Grace c. 1931 Sold

Ito Shinsui No. 0 - Grace c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 18- Bijin in Yukata with Fan c. 1931

Shinsui Ito No. 18- Bijin in Yukata with Fan c. 1931