87 Takahashi Shōtei (Hiroaki) 1871 – 1945 Silhouette under Cherry Blossoms

Japan, c. 1920s–1930s (Taishō / early Shōwa period)

This highly poetic and aesthetically striking sheet was designed by Takahashi Shotei, a pivotal artist of the shin-hanga (new prints) movement. The scene captures the elegant silhouette of a woman carrying a paper lantern as she walks toward a street lamp at night. The composition is dominated by an enormous full moon framed by weeping branches of cherry blossoms. The print is a classic example of Japanese export production from the 1920s and 30s. Japanese publishers historically marketed these narrow-format night scenes (often part of the Hasegawa Night Series) to the West under the commercial moniker "Hiroshige IV" to capitalize on the legendary family name. Intended for export, this specific impression was intentionally printed without an artist's signature or seal, catering to the Western collectors' preference for a clean, painting-like pictorial space. The print boasts an exceptional provenance, originating from the famous collection of the Czech painter Vojtěch Chytil, who imported such contemporary works directly from Japan to Central Europe during the interwar period.