signed Hiroaki saku and sealed Hiroaki,

Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) (Japanese, 1871-1945) Abalone Diver (Awabi tori), circa 1920 Woodblock with white mica ground on paper 21-1/8 x 14-3/4 ines (53.7 x 37.5 cm) (sheet) Signed: Hiroaki saku; with the artist's red ink seal A proof as confirmed by the red ink seal Published by Fusui Gabo Takahashi Hiroaki (Shotei) was from the lively downtown area of Tokyo, Asakusa. This area was bustling with business activity, and many traditional customs were integral to the artist's daily life. At the age of nine, he learned painting from his uncle, Matsumoto Fuko (1840-1923), a well-known nihonga artist. Displaying great talent at an early age, he joined the design section of the Foreign Affairs division of the Imperial Household Ministry, where he created designs for copies of foreign medals, uniforms for foreign officers, and ceremonial objects. In 1889, he founded the Japan Youth Painting Society and worked as an illustrator for scientific magazines and textbooks. He then met the young apprentice printer Watanabe Shozaburo, who recruited Takahashi to create prints for the foreign tourist trade. Tragically, the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 brought about a significant loss in Takahashi's artistic journey. By this time, he had already produced around 500 prints, almost all of which were unfortunately destroyed in the earthquake or the subsequent fires. This print from 1931 appears to be based on the painting Comb, created in oil on canvas in 1913 by Teramatsu Kunitaro (1876-1943). Teramatsu's work features a model seated similarly, holding a comb in her hand, and looking down. From 1929 to 1932, Fusui Gabo published many of Takahashi's prints of beauties and cats. Many woodblocks or print stock were destroyed during WWII, making his prints from this period rare. Property from the Nelkin Collection HID12401132022 © 2024 Heritage Auctions | All Rights Reserved