Ito Shinsui - Born in Tokyo, Ito Shinsui studied Japanese painting and began designing woodblock prints for the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo in 1916, with whom he collaborated until 1960. He is best known for his lovely shin-hanga images of beautiful women. These elegant and refined beauties are drawn with graceful line work and softly colored backgrounds. Recognized for his artistic achievements, the Japanese government declared Shinsui an "Intangible Cultural Property" in 1952, and he received the "Order of the Rising Sun" in 1970. His works are a wonderful choice to collect or display.

Comments - Charming portrait of a beauty warming herself under a kotatsu, a brazier placed beneath a frame and covered with a heavy quilt or kimono to keep in the warmth. She looks down with a pensive expression, lost in thought, her hair pulled softly back into a large bun adorned with a comb. She wears a black kimono patterned with tiny white crossed lines, the blue collar of her under robe adding a flash of color. The robe draped over the warmer features a tie-dyed red design, carefully drawn and shaded to indicate the folds in the cloth. A lovely shin hanga portrait by Shinsui, published by Isetatsu.

Artist - Ito Shinsui (1898 - 1972)

Image Size - 8 7/8" x 13 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail. Some staining and spots in margins. Some light toning. Please see photos for details. Good overall.