From the end of the last year I have been actively into Ukiyo-e (a genre of Japanese panting), and would like to share some of my recent discoveries. Shōtei (Hiroaki) Takahashi (1871-1945) is considered to be one of the most prominent artists of the Shin-hanga (new prints) movement, which flourished in the early 20th century Japan and aimed to revitalise the traditional 17-19th century ukiyo-e art. Shōtei was raised in an adoptive family and was once an apprentice to his uncle, Matsumoto Fuko, who taught him Japanese-style painting. As a young man, he also worked for the Imperial Household Department of Foreign Affairs, and later for the Okura Shoten and Maeba Shoten publishing, as well as for the well-known Shin-hanga publisher Shōzaburō Watanabe, where he produced original designs. Below are some of his paintings showcasing the mysteries and wonders of the night, and winter season.
Shōtei Takahashi created some of the most stunning Shin-hanga landscapes (fukeiga). The above one depicts a snowy scene overlooking a river and a bridge. Snow dominates the landscape, falling on the torii and the Ayase river. Despite the heavy snow, though, we see that the work does not stop as a man with an umbrella can be seen walking with a dog on the right, and the boat is unmoored.
Shōtei was a master of depicting night-time, capturing the interplay of light and darkness, and conjuring up those elusive shadows caused by moonlight or lanterns. Tokumochi Moonrise is one of his most striking and atmospheric compositions that shows an isolated dwelling on a hill surrounded by the night’s quietness and wonders. A lone figure with a lit lantern can be seen at the foot of a stone staircase, further heightening the painting’s sense of mystery. Looking at this artwork, you can almost hear the sound of crickets and occasional calls of an owl. Magical.
Below are Shotei Takahashi’s night-time and winter sceneries, and I thought a haiku (17-syllable, 3-line Japanese poetry) accompanying each would be fitting, so I selected some from such eminent poets as Bashō, Issa and Buson. Haiku aims to transcend experience and compress worldly truth into simple words and imagery, which, in turn, reveal their own subtle truths hidden in the nature, the ordinary and in small things.
“A paper lantern coming from
the opposite direction
Night fog.”
Ozaki Hōsai (1885-1926)
“Brilliant moon
is it true that you too
must pass in a hurry?”
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
“The Harvest Moon night
the weather in the northlands
unpredictable”.
Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)
“Flowers offered to the Buddha
Come floating
Down the winter river.”
Yosa Buson (1716-1784)
“All this foolishness
About moons and blossoms
Pricked by the cold’s needle.”
Matsuo Bashō (1644-1694)
“January—
In other provinces
Plums blossoming.”
Kobayashi Issa (1763-1828)
Thoughts on Papyrus 
There is something about Japanese painting that I’ve always found very appealing.
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Definitely. I wish I came earlier to this realisation, but it is never late to catch up on the fact!
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🙂
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Absolutely gorgeous. Great haiku pairings too! Thanks for sharing
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Thanks for stopping by!
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Gorgeous paintings and those haiku pairings are perfect! Love this so much, thank you for the post!
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Thanks for reading!
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Beautiful paintings. I loved looking at the collection at the Institute of Arts in Minneapolis as I grew up.
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Definitely. I also recall that time I first saw the temporary Hokusai collection at the British Museum – spellbinding!
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These are gorgeous – I especially love Tokumochi Moonrise.
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It is also my favourite. There is something so dreamy and even cosy about it. I love how Japanese artists capture the nuances of light and darkness, their interplay. They truly seem to understand the beauty hidden in sparseness and the magic of shadows.
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So much delight to contemplate, both images and words, thanks.
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Thanks for stopping by!
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These are stunning works, quiet but deep in meaning. Ukiyo-e were mostly prints made from woodblocks in early times, and I came to love them even before I lived in Japan (early 2000’s), after a touring exhibition of Ukiyo-e came to my home town in New Zealand. You have shown some beautiful work in this post. Thank you.
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I am glad to meet another ukiyo-e admirer!, and yes, well-put – “quiet but deep in meaning” – that is also an accurate description of Japanese art in general, as their literature, too, come to think of it. I have seen only one Ukiyo-e exhibition, the one by Hokusai in London, but it left a deep impression on me. I have also lined up a couple of other Japanese artists to talk about here, so hopefully will get to their work later this year.
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Hokusai is a master. I dind’t know the tradition went on until the early XXth century. Indeed the Japanese woodblocks when they arrived in Europe inspired many artists.
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So beautiful! The pairings of haiku and painting are perfect. Lovely 🥰
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Excellent historical analysis of Japanese art. I learned a lot!
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