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Edutainment > Articles on Art > Shin Hanga > Nomura Yoshimitsu - 20th Century

Nomura Yoshimitsu

The Pagoda at Yasaku
from Famous Places of Kyoto

Nomura Yoshimitsu belonged to the Kyoto circle of Shin Hanga artists who worked for the publisher Sato Shotaro. With the exception of Tomikichiro Tokuriki, the Kyoto artists working in this art style remained a bit in the shadow. Although Nomura Yoshimitsu took part in the famous Toledo exhibition in Ohio in 1936, not even the date of his birth and death are to be found in the literature.

It may be a bit heretical, but it is an interesting question. Could someone like Nomura Yoshimitsu be a big name today like Hasui Kawase, if he had happened to be in Tokyo and had belonged to the circle around the clever business man and successful publisher Watanabe?

Ukiyo-e Blood in His Veins

Nomura Yoshimitsu was born into a family with a long line of artists that can be traced back to a great grandfather who had learned the ukiyo-e craft from Kuniyoshi. The young Yoshimitsu was trained by his father and his grandfather in traditional ukiyo-e style.

Famous Places Around Kyoto

In 1891 Nomura Yoshimitsu made a little excursion to Western art as most Japanese artists did during the Meiji period, studying with a French artist who had come to Kyoto. Later he established his own art school in Kyoto.

In 1931 the artist made a set of 6 prints for the publisher Sato Shotaro in shin hanga style. The series was titled Kyoraku meisho - famous places of Kyoto. These are the known prints by Nomura that can be found in today's art market. Helen Merritt mentions that he also may have made actor prints.

It is astonishing how little we know about some of the twentieth century artists of Japanese prints! The positive side is that there is still a lot to discover for avid collectors and those who are interested in Japanese art history.

Literature sources used for this Nomura Yoshimitsu 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

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