Tatsumi Shimura
Tatsumi Shimura is most known for creating numerous outstanding bijin-ga prints during the conclusion of the shin hanga movement (1907-1980). He was born Sentaro Shimura in Takasaki, Gunma. In 1921, Yamakawa Saiho, a well-known illustrator, started teaching him painting. Yamakawa Shuho, Saiho’s son and a bijin-ga artist and print designer, took him under his wing three years later. Two exhibitions with Kyodotai and one with Seikinka were held by Shimura in 1927 and 1938 respectively.
Beautiful ladies with long eyelashes and clouded eyes became a trademark of his work. Shimura produced a series of woodblock prints, published by Kato Junji, depicting beautiful women between 1948 and 1952. “Five figures of modern beauties” (Gendai bijin fuzoku gotai) was a collaboration with the Japanese Institute of Prints. Editions of 200 of these prints were released in 1953. They portray Japanese ladies in typically feminine positions and apparel.
