Akari (Light) - Shimura Tatsumi (1907-1980) - Japan

Item Description
This work is a Japanese woodblock print titled "Akari" (Light), based on an original design by Shimura Tatsumi (1907–1980), renowned as a painter of bijinga (beautiful women). It depicts a woman dressed in traditional kimono with an elegant upswept hairstyle, standing beside an andon lamp, rendered in the artist's characteristically refined and restrained palette of soft beige, black, and red accents.

The carving was executed by Maeda Kentaro and the printing by Sato Ritsutaro, in keeping with the traditional division of labour found in shin-hanga workshop production. The work is pencil-numbered 134/500, confirming its limited-edition status. The artist's signature appears at the lower left of the image, the names of the carver and printer are noted in the right-hand margin, and a red seal is also present.

The work is housed in its original wooden frame, without glass or acrylic protection.

Artist Profile
Shimura Tatsumi (1907–1980) was born in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, under the given name Sentaro. During the 1920s he studied Japanese painting under Yamakawa Shuho and his father Yamakawa Senni, both of whom were highly regarded for their bijinga. Alongside his painting career, he gained considerable renown as an illustrator for magazines and newspapers, contributing illustrations to the women's magazine Fujokai and to the serialised novel Tange Sazen. In the pre-war period he was celebrated, together with Iwata Sentaro and Kobayashi Hidetune, as one of the "Three Great Illustrators." His celebrated woodblock print series Gendai Bijin Fuzoku Gotai was published in 1953 in a limited edition of 200 copies. In his later years he served as director and president of the Publishers' Artists Federation, and his works continue to be held in public and private museums and collections both in Japan and abroad.

The Artistic Appeal of His Work

Mastery of Bijinga: He excelled in capturing the grace, subtle allure, and inner emotional depth of women dressed in traditional kimonos.

Refined and Restrained Palette: Rather than relying on excessive decoration, he utilized sophisticated, subdued tones—such as soft beige, black, and deliberate red accents—to express the quiet elegance and modesty of Japanese women.

Exquisite Shin-Hanga Craftsmanship: Created through the traditional collaborative workshop system of skilled carvers (such as Maeda Kentaro) and printers (such as Sato Ritsutaro), his woodblock prints possess a warm, tactile texture and a high level of artistic refinement that mechanical printing cannot replicate.



Dimensions
Height: 37.5 cm
Width: 42.5 cm
Depth: 2 cm (frame)

Frame dimensions: Height 55 cm, Width 60.5 cm

Weight
1,200 g / 1.2 kg

Condition
The paper shows foxing, toning, and soiling consistent with long-term storage, and the frame exhibits minor scratches, scuffs, and dirt. There is no glass or acrylic protection.

Additional Information
Technique: Woodblock print (mokuhanga)
Carver: Maeda Kentaro
Printer: Sato Ritsutaro
Edition number: 134/500
Country of production: Japan

NOITICE:

The lot will be carefully packaged and sent by Japan Post, DHL or FedEx depend on the situation.
It takes about 3 weeks to receive normally.
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