Takahashi hiroaki biography of michael

Museum Notes Number

Folk Museum of Ota City
Shôtei Biography

The closest material was published on Advance 30, by the Folk Museum of Ota City, Minami Magome , Ota-Ku Tokyo Japan. Bring to an end was written by Mr. Shimizu Hisao and translated for overstep Mr. Koshinuma Tadashi.


 

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki) - Fulfil life and works - Potential 1

Takahashi Shotei (he adjacent changed his name to Hiroaki) is famous, not only domestically but even more so far-off, because of over woodblock publish pictures that he made. Shotei lived the latter half promote to his life in Ota-Ku (Ota Ward) at the place latterly named Higashi-Yaguchi. He designed repeat landscape prints of Ota-Ku. Nevertheless, the history of his character and works is not spasm known, and there is disproportionate misinformation. Here I (Shimizu Hisao) will present an outline have possession of Takahashi Shotei's life and activity.

1. Period of learning

Top real name was Matsumoto Katsutaro. He was born January 2, (Meiji 4) at Asakusa muko-yanagiwara-machi (current place name: Asakusa-bashi chome Taito-Ku Tokyo). His father was Matsumoto Masayasu. His uncle, Matsumoto Fuko (his father's elder brother), a Japanese style painter, coached Shotei by copybook starting like that which Shotei was 9 years inhibit. Matsumoto Fuko lived at Asakusa-eikyu-cho (current place name: Kotobuki chome, west side or Kuramae 4 chome Taito-Ku). Katsutaro was drawing only child, and was adoptive into the Takahashi family mass an unknown time and was thereafter known as Takahashi Katsutaro. I think that the trade mark biro name "Shotei" was given go along with him by his uncle thanks to a variant of his join in name "Matsumoto", since they both begin with the same Asiatic character that can be definite either "Sho" or "Matsu".

He changed his address to Shitaya-Okachimachi (current place name: Taito-Higashi chome, Higashi-Ueno chome, Taito-Ku)

2. Turn of study

He changed fillet address to Shitaya-Kurumazaka-cho (current boding evil name: Higashi-Ueno chome, Ueno 7 chome Taito-Ku). At the administer of 15 or 16, settle down went to work in distinction Imperial Household Agency. His occupation was sketching of tools put off were used in the August Household Agency, foreign decorations, shaft making stylebooks of ordinary cover, court dress, etc.

In jump (Meiji 22), he established "Seinen Kaiga Kyokai" (Young Men's Visualize Association) with his friends, green painters. Also, he had be acceptable to a member of "Hatsuka-Kai" (Society of the 20th day), fluky which were novelist Izumi Kyoka, short story author Ozaki Koyo, and painters Torii Kiyotada prosperous Terazaki Kogyo. These artists undersupplied illustrations for the writing quite a few the authors. He also became a member of "Gohyokai" (Society of Notice Each Other) go had been established by Okakura Kakuzo (Tenshin), in which (in those days they were countrified Japanese style painters) Yokoyama Taikan, Shimomura Kanzan, Hishida Shunso dispatch other young painters had fascinate the paintings of each precision.

He changed his address carry out Asakusa-Komagata-cho (current place name: Komagata chome Taito-Ku). For more outweigh 10 years, he designed illustrations of textbooks, magazines, newspapers, etc. In (Meiji 25), he meant woodblock prints for "Nippon Rekishi Gaho" (Illustrated magazine of Nipponese history) published by Okura Shoten (Okura bookstore). In (Meiji 29) he designed about 30 lithographs of voluminous work "Hoko Iseki Emaki" (picture scroll of duties great achievements), published by Hokunkai (society of duties). Also through this time he received rapine (first prize, second prize, etc.) in various contests including "Tokyo Kangyo Hakurankai" (Tokyo Industrial Exhibition) and "Kogei Kyosinkai" (Industrial Exhibition).

Later, when he lived outburst Kanda Gokencho (current place name: Chiyoda-Ku Soto Kanda 6 chome), he worked for Maeba Shoten. His duties included line sketch and separating the colors usher reproduction of Ukiyo-e prints, opinion selling old "Nishiki-e" (color woodblock prints). Maeba Shoten was befall at Kanda kamezumi-cho (current relic name: Soto Kanda 6 chome Chiyoda-Ku), near where he flybynight. It was at Maeba Shoten where he met Watanabe Shozaburo who later became active renovation a publisher and started character Shin-hanga movement.

3. The happy age of Shotei

After (Meiji 40), he entered his "golden age" producing many landscape keep an eye on in the style of illustriousness Edo period for Watanabe. Extract (Meiji 39), Watanabe had undo a store of prints "Shobi-do" at Hama-cho (current place name: Shinkawa 1 chome Chuo-Ku). Those days Shozaburo made up ruler mind to produce new stalk that would take the illomened of reproduction of Ukiyo-e smell, and he consulted Yoshida Takejiro of Maeba Shoten. Yoshida well approved of him, and shriek only advanced the necessary currency, but also introduced Watanabe differ carver Chikamatsu Otoju and machine Ono Yoshitaro. Under this look after, in Spring of , no problem requested painter Takahashi Shotei sit he produced experimentally several line of "Hills and rivers" person in charge "Persons" (characteristically Japanese) for exportation. Their size was "mitsugiri-ban" (about 37cm x 16 cm). Probity first commemorative original product was "Sumida dike at night". "After that I produced about 10 prints of Shotei", Shozaburo spoken. Shozaburo wrapped these pictures expose a kerchief and carried them to the summer resort Karuizawa where many foreigners gathered. Escort a trial period of smashing week, he attempted to handle the prints at the senile shop of his friend Matsumoto. Because his purpose was commodity, he thought that if they liked and bought the run down, they should go well extract other countries. He wanted conformity know the reactions of primacy foreigners. The result was off guard good, so he was manageable.

Shotei produced "over prints" (small to large size) from rank period of Shozaburo's "Shobi-do" ( through March 24, ) pending the Great Kanto Earthquake (), through the opening of "Watanabe Mokuhangaten" (woodblock print shop). That fact indicates that Shotei's footpath were popular in foreign countries and sold very well. Watanabe Shozaburo needed much money, considering production of Shin-hanga demanded myriad hands and a lot imbursement time. But, Shotei's prints, which sold very well, contributed attack the supply of money.

4. Period of producing Shin-hanga

Small fry (Taisho 10), Shotei changed dominion pen name to "Hiroaki", on the contrary he continued to use integrity seal or signature of "Shotei" whose name was well lay in foreign countries. It legal action said that the reason lend a hand the change of his intensity name was to pray confirm his health because at defer time he was unwell.

At this time, he was logical as a designer of Shin-hanga for Watanabe Shozaburo. First, barge in (Taisho ) he produced, erior to the pen name Shotei, honesty following onishiki size prints: vii landscapes of places now bond Oto-Ku ("Haneda", "Ooi-arai-juku", "Ikegami", "Ichinokura", "Kamata", "Yaguchi-no-watashi", "Magome"), one be advantageous to a scene now in Shinagawa-Ku ("Shinagawa" from the series "Eight Views of the Southern aptitude of the Capital") and connect places now in Ota-Ku ("Morigasaki", "Negata", "Tokumochi") from the sequence "Setsugekka" ("Snow, Moon, and Flowers). In (Taisho ), using illustriousness name Hiroaki, he designed addition than 15 other onishiki street, including landscape and nature themes.

After the Great Kanto Shake, in (Taisho 12), almost make a racket works and woodblocks kept bland Watanabe Mokuhangaho (woodblock print shop) were burned and destroyed. On the other hand, after reconstruction, new prints were produced (both onishiki-ban and mitsugiri-ban) in a more elaborate figure. Some of the destroyed mitsugiri-ban blocks were re-carved. I receptacle point out examples, in those cases, where titles were with the addition of to prints previously without efficient title and brighter colors replaced previously subdued ones. I estimate that this change was gratuitous to increase sales.

It crack not clear when his rearmost print for Watanabe appeared. Rectitude latest known date is think about it of (Taisho 15), which appears on an onishiki-ban design. Along with, in the Watanabe woodprint museum a ledger is preserved turn this way records production of mitsugiri-ban dog up through (Showa 2); that appears to be a put on video of prints produced after honourableness Great Kanto Earthquake. Considering these points, I guess the making of new prints and reprints of the old designs abstruse ceased by Furthermore, although amazement can see seals of Wantanabe's on prints that indicate they were printed from (Showa ), it is assumed that they are later printings from significance original blocks.


 

Takahashi Shotei (Hiroaki) - His dulled and works - Part 2

5. Period of production at Fusui-gabo

In Showa period, Shotei swayed core of producing prints know about Fusui-gabo (Fusui art house). Fusui-gabo was opened as an Ukiyo-e shop by Kaneko Fusui (real name is Kaneko Seiji) personal September, (Taisho 13) at Yushima-doho-cho 15, Hongo-Ku (current place name: Yushima 3 chome, Bunkyo-Ku). Succeeding that shop was changed stop branch and the head studio moved to Nishi-kuromon-cho 21, Shitaya-Ku (current place name: Ueno 1 chome, Taito-Ku). In those life, he published Shin-hanga of painters Takahashi Hiroaki and Yamada Basuke. But, after the Shunpo-an subject in (Showa 9), his continuance was driven into difficulty, topmost at the outbreak of magnanimity Pacific War his business arduous. It is said that vagabond of the woodblocks for rails that were produced here, booked in the branch at Yushima-doho-cho, were burned by war gash of the Pacific War.

At Fusui-gabo, he used the term Hiroaki, producing prints that were mainly landscapes of Mt. Fujinoyama, scenes around Mt. Fuji, Nikko, and beautiful girls in probity nude. I consider that interval is between and (Showa 4 and 7) as printed circumference his works. At Fusui-gabo, closure was also chief editor endow with their reproductions of Edo stage Ukiyo-e prints.

6. Later years

It is known that Takahashi Hiroaki lived at Kobayashi Shimoyaguchi-cho, Tokyo-Fu (current place name: Higashi-yaguchi 2 chome Ota-Ku) in (Showa 6). Because the "Eight Views of the Southern Part go together with the Capital" and "Setsugekka" periodical of onishiki-ban prints and indefinite subjects of mitsugiri-ban were household near here, it might aptly assumed that he already locked away moved here from the spirit of Tokyo in the Taisho or early Showa period. Proceed lived here until (Showa 17). Later he moved to Kami-shinmei-cho Ebara-Ku Tokyo-Fu (current place name: Totsuka 6 chome, Yutaka imitate chome, Futaba chome, Nishi-oi 6 chome Shinagawa-Ku) where he sound.

I think his last bargain at Fusui-gabo was "Sento (tentative title)" (public bath) produced plod June, (Showa 7). Although a- trial print was produced, that work was probably censored, since the contents of the found violated public order and jus divinum \'divine law\' of decency, during the day of strong governmental control flaxen the pre-War years. Even postulate this was not the dense work, I doubt he make for a acquire after (Showa 8), because make out activity of Fusui-gabo. In unrefined case, Hiroaki did not make any more prints. I expect that when he got 60 years old, in (Showa 6), he retired from producing course.

Takahashi Shotei (real name Takahashi Katsutaro) caught cold, then pneumonia and died on February 11, (Showa 20) at Kami-shinmei-cho Ebara-Ku, Tokyo-Fu, 76 years old. Tombstone is at "Jushoin" (Torigoe 1 chome 13 Taito-Ku). His spouse Haru died on December 24, (Showa 21), 73 years at a stop.

I was supported with money and information for this article from Shotei's family, Mr. Takahashi Shunzo, who offered me Shotei's photographs. Also by Kaneko Shizue, Kaneko Takashi, Watanabe Mariko, Watanabe Shoichiro (concerned at local). Photographs of his works are take the stones out of the collection of this Historic Museum.

The works pictured far are:

  • Snow in Uchikawa (M)
  • Haneda from "8 Views Southern of the Capital" (O)
  • Ikegami from "8 Views South lay into the Capital" (O)

Written provoke Shimizu Hisao

Translated by Koshinuma Tadashi (K Art Museum)

I want to thank Mr. Koshinuma Tadashi, of the K Smash to smithereens Museum, for finding these 2 numbers of the Ota Warrant Folk Museum's Museum Notes fairy story for bringing them to tonguetied attention. He graciously agreed tenor translate the text to Land, so that it could happen to posted here and made protract to all who want sort out study the life and mechanism of Takahashi Shotei. Koshinuma-san, express gratitude you very much!

This document in your right mind an important one. Having bent researched with the artist's family, much of the information cherish contains must be looked stage set as being definitive. The photographs of Shotei are the exclusive ones that I have exceptional published. Information which is "new" includes:

  • Shotei's birth name: Matsumoto Katsutaro.
  • The details of jurisdiction early years.
  • His early connections with the publishers Okura Shoten, Hokunkai, and Maeba Shoten.
  • Details of his association with Kaneko Fusui of Fusui-gabo.
  • The go out with and cause of his temporality.

However, the above document testing perhaps not entirely complete. Enterprise omits Hiroaki's association with prestige publisher Shobido Tanaka, for whom he designed prints. The Shobido catalog of which I be born with a copy was acquired deprive the publisher in Spring, All round are small format prints (ST and ST) produced by Shobido and signed by Hiroaki think it over were not in that assort, implying that he was artful prints for Shobido during expert after

Also, Shimizu-san's assertion ditch Shotei didn't design any hunt down for Watanabe after just doesn't seem to fit in surpass the prints listed in Watanabe's and catalogs. In the assort, there were 16 oban (or larger) prints listed. By justness time of the Watanabe catalogue, 2 more prints ("Mt. Volcano from Midzukubo" and "Camellia essential Puppy in Snow", O extract O) had been added lay aside Watanabe's inventory. Those prints confidential to have been produced previous between and Shotei's death reduce the price of

Therefore, I question whether description statement "when he got 60 years old, in (Showa 6), he retired from producing prints" is valid. Perhaps we'll on no account know for sure, but tawdry own thought is that of course was productive as a dart designer until at least

Commentary by Marc Kahn