Who is Shinsui Ito? A Master Representing Modern Bijin-ga and the Value of His Works

Shinsui Ito is one of the essential painters when discussing modern Japanese bijin-ga (paintings of beautiful women).

From the Taisho to the Showa era, he continued to depict the female form with elegant beauty, leaving a significant mark in both Japanese-style painting and the Shin-hanga (new prints) movement.
His work is characterized by the expression of soft skin, flowing lines, quiet gazes, and compositions that evoke the very atmosphere of the seasons.

The charm of Shinsui Ito's bijin-ga lies not only in depicting beautiful women but also in reflecting the lifestyle and sensibilities of that era.

■ The Achievements of Shinsui Ito

Shinsui Ito was born in Tokyo in 1898. His real name was Hajime Ito. He became a student of Kiyokata Kaburagi in 1911 and was recognized for his artistic talent from an early age. The artist biography at the Tokyo Fuji Art Museum notes that after repeatedly winning awards at the Inten and Bunten exhibitions, he focused on bijin-ga and participated in the Shin-hanga movement, becoming a central figure in the flourishing of printmaking.

A major appeal of Shinsui Ito is that he gained high acclaim not only for his original Japanese-style paintings but also in the world of woodblock prints.

In his Japanese-style paintings, he depicted elegant female figures, and in his Shin-hanga work, through his involvement with the Watanabe Print Shop and others, he left behind many woodblock prints with a modern sensibility.
The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, also holds works by Shinsui Ito, and their artist database lists his basic information as an artist born in 1898 and deceased in 1972.

Furthermore, Shinsui Ito is introduced internationally as one of the representative artists of Shin-hanga. Exhibition commentary from the Art Institute of Chicago explains that his prints, while dealing with traditional subjects, possessed bold colors and realism that transcended 19th-century norms.

■ The Elegance and Serenity Residing in Bijin-ga

When people think of Shinsui Ito's work, many likely think of his bijin-ga.

Women in yukata, women tying their hair, post-bath scenes, applying makeup, maiko, and scenes of the four seasons.
Even though they are scenes of casual daily life, there is a quiet tension and elegance within them.

The female figures depicted by Shinsui are glamorous, yet never excessive.
While details such as the eyes, fingertips, lines of the kimono, and the flow of the hair are drawn with great care, the entire composition retains a calm, lingering resonance.

A major achievement of Shinsui Ito is that he inherited the lineage of Ukiyo-e bijin-ga while refining it into a modern depiction of women.

■ An Artist Valued in Both Japanese Painting and Shin-hanga

Shinsui Ito was not only a Japanese-style painter but also an important artist in the field of woodblock prints.

Shin-hanga is a printmaking style that incorporates modern sensibilities while inheriting the traditions of Edo-period Ukiyo-e prints.
Among these, Shinsui Ito gained great popularity, particularly for his bijin-ga.

A search of the collection at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo, reveals multiple print works by Shinsui Ito, demonstrating that he is an important artist in the history of modern printmaking.

Original paintings possess a unique elegance found only in one-of-a-kind pieces, while woodblock prints allow you to enjoy the beauty of the printing and the translucent color tones.
Being highly regarded for both of these mediums adds depth to Shinsui Ito as an artist.

■ How is he viewed in the market?

Works by Shinsui Ito are still traded in art markets both in Japan and abroad today.

When looking at the market, it is easier to understand if you categorize them broadly into original paintings (honga), woodblock prints, and smaller works such as shikishi (colored paper) or sketches.
Even for the same bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), the way they are evaluated changes depending on whether they are original paintings, woodblock prints, or shikishi works.

In particular, subjects characteristic of Shinsui Ito, such as bijin-ga, maiko, makeup scenes, and seasonal portraits of women, tend to attract more interest.
For woodblock prints, series such as "Twelve Aspects of New Beauties" and "Collection of Modern Beauties," as well as publisher seals, editions, and the condition of the sheets, are also important points to check.

On the other hand, even for an artist as highly regarded as Shinsui Ito, the price is not determined solely by the title of the work.
It is important to consider the presence of certificates of authenticity, original boxes (tomobako), original seals (tomoshiru), the condition of the work, the subject matter, the size, and market demand.

■ For those who want to know more about Shinsui Ito's works

On the Kaitori Iura blog, we explain Shinsui Ito's profile and style, as well as how his works are viewed in the actual market and the points checked during appraisal, in an easy-to-understand manner.

For example,

・In what price range are Shinsui Ito's works traded?
・How does the evaluation differ between original paintings and woodblock prints?
・How are bijin-ga and maiko works viewed in the market?
・Do certificates of authenticity, original boxes, and original seals affect the appraisal?
・Can I consult about works that have stains, yellowing, or flaking?

We have summarized the content that people who own these works are often curious about.

Because Shinsui Ito's works are so well-known, it is important to check each individual piece.
If you would like to know more, please take a look at our blog.

▶ Buying and Appraising Shinsui Ito | Explaining the Market Value of Original Paintings, Woodblock Prints, and Bijin-ga

■ You do not need to be committed to selling to consult with us

If you own a work by Shinsui Ito, it is perfectly fine to start by just identifying the type of work.

“I want to know if it is an original painting or a woodblock print”
“I have a certificate of authenticity or a box, but I don't know how to interpret them”
“It is an old work with stains or yellowing”
“I haven't decided whether to sell it, but I just want to know its value”

Consultations at such stages are also possible.

It is easier to verify if you have photos of the entire work, the signature (rakkan) and seals, the back, the original box, the original seal, the certificate of authenticity, the title label, and in the case of prints, the publisher's seal, edition number, and any areas where you are concerned about the condition.

We will not pressure you to sell, so please feel free to consult with us about what you know.

➡️ Toshikazu Iura - Expert in Paintings and Art Trading

📷 It is best to have two photos: one of the entire work and one of the signature/tomo-seal.

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