Original Woodblock Print Shuntei Miyagawa "Blind Guide Race” - Japan- 1897

Japanese Original Woodblock Print Shuntei Miyagawa "Blind Guide Race” from the series "Kodomo Fuzoku" Children, traditions and habits - 1897

Size: Height 35cm, width 23cm

Object literature: Shuntei Miyagawa (宮川春汀) was a prominent Japanese artist known for his contributions to the ukiyo-e genre during the late Edo and Meiji periods. He was born in 1873 in Tokyo, Japan, during a time of significant social and political change in the country.

Miyagawa began his artistic career as an apprentice to the renowned ukiyo-e artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi, whose distinctive style and innovative techniques had a profound influence on his early development as an artist. Under Kuniyoshi's tutelage, Miyagawa honed his skills in woodblock printing, mastering the intricate process of carving blocks and applying pigments to create vibrant and expressive prints.

Throughout his career, Miyagawa primarily focused on producing bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), a popular theme within the ukiyo-e tradition. His prints often depicted elegant courtesans, graceful geisha, and fashionable women of the Edo and Meiji periods, capturing their allure and charm with delicate lines and soft colors. Miyagawa's bijin-ga prints were characterized by their attention to detail, refined compositions, and subtle expressions, reflecting the aesthetic ideals of beauty and femininity prevalent in Japanese society during that time.

In addition to bijin-ga, Miyagawa also excelled in creating yakusha-e (actor prints), capturing the theatrical performances of kabuki actors with dynamic energy and dramatic flair. His prints showcased the vibrant costumes, bold gestures, and theatrical poses of kabuki actors, immortalizing their performances on paper for posterity.

Miyagawa's artistic talent and dedication to preserving the traditions of ukiyo-e made him a respected figure within the Japanese art world. Despite the decline of the ukiyo-e tradition in the face of modernization and the rise of Western influences, Miyagawa remained committed to his craft, continuing to produce prints that celebrated the beauty and vitality of Japanese culture.

Today, Shuntei Miyagawa is remembered as one of the last great masters of the ukiyo-e tradition, whose works embody the timeless elegance and enduring appeal of Japanese woodblock prints. His prints are cherished by collectors and enthusiasts around the world for their artistic excellence and cultural significance, ensuring his legacy as a pioneering figure in the history of Japanese art.

Shuntei Miyagawa passed away in 1914, leaving behind a legacy of artistic brilliance and a rich body of work that continues to inspire and captivate audiences to this day.