Takahashi Shōtei

Takahashi Shōtei (1871–1945), born Takahashi Hiroaki, stands as a foundational pillar of the 20th-century shin-hanga (new prints) movement. As the first artist recruited by legendary publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō, Shōtei bridged the gap between traditional ukiyo-e and modern aesthetics. His vast oeuvre is celebrated for evocative, atmospheric landscapes—most notably Moon at Magome and Snow on Ayase River—which feature driving rain, glowing lanterns, and quiet villages rendered with a distinct lyrical softness.

His career is historically bifurcated by the 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake, which destroyed his original woodblocks. Consequently, pre-earthquake impressions are exceptionally rare. Shōtei’s mastery of light and shadow remains a benchmark for Japanese landscape art.