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Edutainment > Articles on Art > Shin Hanga > Miki Suizan 1887-1957

Moon at Niji Castle
1924

Miki Suizan is one of the artists who made print designs for the Kyoto publisher Sato Shotaro. Six images of bijin - beautiful women - and eight landscape prints are among the finest of Shin Hanga.

Student of Takeuchi Seiho

Miki was born in Kinashi in Hyogo prefecture. He studied under Takeuchi Seiho classical Japanese style painting. Suizan became a well-known and acknowledged painter who exhibited regularly at the official Japanese salons like Teiten or Bunten, sponsored by the Japanese government.

Selected Views of Kyoto

In 1924 and 1925 Kyoto print entrepreneur Sato Shotaro published 14 prints in Oban format by Miki Suizan in two sets, 6 prints of bijin - beautiful young girls - and 8 landscapes. The two sets were titled Selected Views of Kyoto. Both print sets were carved by Maeda Yujiro who worked for Shotaro and had also carved prints by Yoshikawa Kanpo and Nomura Yoshimitsu. The printer was Oiwa.

Toledo Exhibition in 1930

Miki Suizan was one of the 10 Japanese artists who participated in the spectacular exhibition in Toledo/USA, where all 14 of his prints were on display. The other 9 artists in the show were Hashiguchi Goyo, Ito Shinsui, Kawase Hasui, Natori Shunsen, Oda Kazuma, Ohara Shoson, Yamamura Toyonari, Yoshida Hiroshi and Yoshikawa Kanpo. These illustrious names showed the appreciation of Miki Suizan and these 14 prints.

Classical Ukiyo-e Style - Kind of

Arashiyama in Spring
1924

Suizan's print designs are kept in traditional Japanese printmaking style with all typical features of classical ukiyo-e such as the black outlines, large plain color areas and the use of elaborate woodblock techniques like color graduation and an extremely fine execution of details like the display of single hair. The prints are fine examples of the high level of Kyoto artisans.

Although these prints are very close to classical ukiyo-e, they have a somewhat modern appeal. Different from Hasui or Yoshida, Suizan did not try to use the Western element of showing the effects of light and shadow. It is hard to describe what makes the modern look. Maybe it is the different appearance of the women's faces and the intensive use of color graduation.

Whatever it is, these 14 prints are beautiful and charming. Other than these two sets no other prints are known by Suizan - unfortunately. Suizan prints are therefore rare. Collectors appreciate them and they are not quite cheap.

Literature sources used for this Miki Suizan biography

• Helen Merritt and Nanako Yamada, "Guide to Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints: 1900-1975", published by University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, ISBN 0-8248-1732-X
• Helen Merritt, "Modern Japanese Woodblock Prints - The early years", published by University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, 1990, ISBN 0-8248-1200-X
• The Female Image - 20th century prints of Japanese beauties, ABE PUBLISHING LTD., Tokyo & Hotei Publishing Leiden, ISBN 90-74822-20-7

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