Gallery 3B: Natori Shunsen and Shin Nagao Magazine — The Christenson Collection of Miniature Japanese Woodblock Prints

Gallery 3B: Natori Shunsen and the Artists of Shin Nigao Magazine

This gallery features woodblock kabuki actor prints from the short-lived art magazine, Shin Nigao (New Portraits). Shin Nigao represented an attempt to revive interest in actor prints which was one of the major genres of traditional Ukiyo-e. Shin Nigao was published in five issues during 1915 and included seventy-seven prints. Several notable artists contributed to the magazine including artists that belong to both the shin hanga (new prints) and sosaku hanga (creative prints) movements. Of note, these small prints were the first published for several artists including Natori Shunsen, who would later be celebrated for his kabuki prints in larger format. In addition to kabuki actor prints, the fifth and final issue of Shin Nigao included five portraits of officials involved with the 1915 enthronement of Emperor Taisho (Yoshihito) and five portraits of geisha who performed at the enthronement ceremonies. All of the prints were carved by Igami Bonkotsu who also printed the works in issues 2 through 5. Prints in issue 1 were printed by Nakamura Sanjiro. Prints is issue 1 were printed directly onto magazine pages. Prints for issues 2 through 5 were tipped into the magazines. Both softcover and hardcover versions of issues 2, 3 and 4 are known. Issue one is only known to have been printed with a softcover. Issue 5 appears to have only been published with a hardcover.