Shinsui Ito (1898-1972) was a central figure during Japan's artistic identity crisis in the 20th century. As wave after wave of artistic movements from overseas broke upon these shores, native artists felt compelled to either abandon their own artistic traditions or embrace them even more strongly.
Ito, whose works are briefly on display at the Takashimaya Gallery in Nihonbashi, Tokyo, was one of those artists who chose the latter course, joining the Nihonga movement, which looked to Japan's past -- rather than the confusing plethora of ideas pouring in from abroad -- for inspiration.
When he was 18, he joined Shinhanga Undo, a group that aimed to revive the methods and styles of ukiyo-e. This had a profound influence on the style and themes of his paintings, which abound with the images of nature and feminine beauty found in traditional Japanese woodblock prints.
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