Tatsumi Shimura is known for designing several striking bijin-ga prints towards the end of the Shin Hanga movement. Born in Takasaki, Gunma Prefecture, Shimura’s real name was Sentaro Shimura. He lived in Yokohama from 1910 and in 1921 he began studying art with Yamakawa Saiho, a well-known designer. In 1924 he became an apprentice of Yamakawa Shuho (Saiho’s son), who was also a bijin-ga artist. Shimura exhibited paintings with Kyodotai in 1927 and with Seikinkai in 1938. He became known for his paintings of beautiful women with long eyelashes and blurred pupils. As a young man, Tatsumi also worked as an illustrator for newspapers, serialized novels, and magazines, notably for the Japanese magazine “Woman’s world” (Fujokai). His most famous illustrations were for the novel Tange Sazen by Hayashi Fubo. From 1948 to 1952, Shimura designed several woodblock prints of beauties that were published by Kato Junji. Later he collaborated with the Japanese Institute of Prints to create a series called “Five Figures of Modern Beauties” (Gendai bijin fuzoku gotai). These prints were published in 1953 in editions of 200. They depict Japanese women in traditionally feminine poses and attire. The finely detailed figures are juxtaposed against very simple backgrounds. “Late Summer” cleverly alludes to Hokusai’s famous ukiyo-e print Red Fuji pictured on the woman’s fan. After a solo exhibition on his sixtieth birthday in 1967, Shimura devoted his career entirely to Nihonga, or Japanese style painting.

Late Summer (Natsu Takete) – 夏たけて

Series: Five Figures of Modern Beauties – 現代美人風俗五態
Year: 1953
Publisher: Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho
Carver: Nakagawa Chushichi
Printer: Onodera Ryuji
Limited edition number: 91/300
Size: Oban 25,4 x 38cm

Playing Battledore (Oibane) – 追羽根

Series: Five Figures of Modern Beauties – 現代美人風俗五態
Year: 1953
Publisher: Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho
Limited edition number: open edition
Size: Oban 25,4 x 38cm

Akari (Lantern)

Series: Two Subjects of Japanese Women, Vol. 1
Year: 1980
Carver: Kentaro Maeda
Printer: Ritsuzo Sato
Limited edition number: 143/800
Size: Dai Oban 34.5 x 45.5cm

Haori – はおり

Series: Two Subjects of Japanese Women, Vol. 1
Year: 1980
Publisher: Yuyudo – 悠々洞出版
Carver: Kentaro Maeda
Printer: Ritsuzo Sato
Limited edition number: ?/800
Size: Dai Oban 34.5 x 45.5cm

Limited edition number: 321/800
Size: 44x44cm

Limited edition number: 185/800
Size: 44x44cm