SHIMURA -- Late Summer (#5)

(Click HERE for additional image)
(Click HERE for additional image)
Artist SHIMURA Tatsumi (1907-80)
Title "Late Summer"
("Natsutakete")
Date 1953 (Limited edition of 200 prints)
Provenance Found in small Tokyo print shop.
Series "Five Figures of Modern Beauties" ("Gendai Bijin Fuzoku Gotai")
Publisher Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho (Kato Junji) (Tokyo, 1930-53)
Seal, Carver/Printer Nakagawa/Onodera (active c1940-c55, Tokyo)
Image Size 10 x 14 7/8 (plus wide margins)
Impression Very Fine. Skillfully over-printed hairlines; superb "bokashi" (gradation of colors) shading to face and fan ("uchiwa"); light "gauffrage" to outline of kimono; highly detailed carving. Large, deeply embossed "kanji title" in center bottom margin. (Slight grey pigment unevenness upper/right corner.)
Condition Excellent. (No flaws noted--Still in original "presentation folder.")
Reference/Illus "The Female Image," Plate #263.
Comments A stunning technical masterpiece--one of a lifetime total of 5 "bijin-ga" images (all 1953). Here, the title of "Late Summer" cleverly alludes to Hokusai's famous "Red Fuji" print seen on the woman's fan. Published only once, as a small limited edition (200 copies) in the early-1950's by Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho Publisher (Kato Junji) of Tokyo. Rarely seen. Roach: "His prints are technical marvels." (Learn more.)
Item # BG-685 (Our FINAL copy.)
Price $1900 (Sold)