Hiromitsu Takahashi - 太夫 (Tayu) 1

Name: Hiromitsu Takahashi - 太夫 (Tayu) 1
Brand: Kumo Arts
Price: 280.00 GBP
Availability: InStock

£280.00

Contemporary | Kappazuri/Stencil Print

Hiromitsu Takahashi’s stencil print 太夫 (Tayu) 1 presents a striking monochrome portrait of an Edo-period courtesan. Rendered in bold black and soft ivory on handmade washi, the composition captures the Tayu’s poised elegance and narrative presence - her carefully coiffed hair and expressive gaze evoking the sophistication of Bunraku’s lead narrators. The subtle grain of the stencil on textured paper adds depth to this timeless figure. 👘✨

Year & Edition: c.1990's · Tayu 1 · Ed. 28/30. Signed in pencil “Hiromitsu”.
Medium: Kappazuri/Stencil.
Dimensions: Paper W: 30.50 cm × H: 47.50 cm; Image W: 24.00 cm × H: 29.00 cm.
Condition: Mint; crisp impression, paper pristine.
Notes: 太夫 (Tayu) were high-ranking female entertainers - often voicing and narrating Bunraku puppet theatre performances for Edo-period audiences. This print honours their grace and dramatic artistry.

About the Artist

Hiromitsu Takahashi (b. 1959, Kanagawa) is one of the last major artists working in kappazuri (型紙摺), Japan’s traditional stencil print technique. A contemporary figure deeply rooted in the post-war legacy of Yoshitoshi Mori and Serizawa Keisuke, he produces bold, hand-printed works inspired by Kabuki theatre, rendered on handmade washi paper. His editions are exceptionally limited—often fewer than twenty prints—reflecting a rare commitment to one of Japan’s most endangered printmaking traditions. [ ← View All Works by Hiromitsu Takahashi]