Shinsui Ito is regarded as one of the most significant woodblock print artists of the shin-hanga movement and as one of the last to be influenced by the traditional ukiyo-e style particularly in the subject of bijinga (beautiful women). Born Hajime Ito in Tokyo, he was passionate about art from an early age and became a student of nihonga under the guidance of painter Kaburaki Kiyokata. Difficult family circumstances pushed him into hardship, although his determination to continue studying made him work during daytime and attend night school afterwards. His diligence earned him the nickname ‘Shinsui’ (‘Deep water’).
At the age of eighteen, Shinsui joined the shin-hanga movement, which included major artists such as Hasui Kawase and Goyo Hashiguchi. Established by the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo (1885-1962) the movement aimed to revive the older structure of ukiyo-e production and its collaborative process. Although many of his early works were direct reflections of traditional ukiyo-e both in subject matter and in style, his technique was revolutionary. Shinsui would paint a ‘master painting’ in watercolours, and dedicated craftsmen would make the actual prints from this ‘master copy’.
Most of Shinsui’s beauty prints show a simple yet rich palette of colours, usually in the clothes of the model, while contrasting white translucent skin and jet-black hair. This striking composition and a strong use of line became the embodiment of the shin-hanga aesthetic, borrowing from the Edo-period tradition and adding a modern dimension to it. A long process of experimentation and trial printings enabled both Shinsui and his publisher to create powerful expressions, deep textures and a transparency that could not be conveyed in painting. The collaboration continued into the 1960s to great success.
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