Collection
Ito Shinsui
Girls Full of Dreams1952 145.5×177.9 cm
This is a commemorative work in which Shinsui established his own unique group portrait style.
The faces of the girls and their sailor uniforms each have a subtlety of expression and have been executed separately, while the totality produces a clear beauty.
The girl in the foreground with her hair in plaits is modeled upon Shinsui's own daughter, Asaoka Yukiji, who became famous as an actress earlyon.
Ito Shinsui
1898‐1972
Ito Shinsui was born in Tokyo. He was deeply moved by the works created by Hayami Gyoshu and consequently he decided to become a painter. Under Kaburaki Kiyokata, Shinsui made many works for the government-sponsored exhibitions. Shinsui devoted his life in creating a new style of painting - one which respected the traditions derived from ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints). His painting ability was notable. He painted his bijin-ga (beautiful woman paintings) livelier then what was considered normal which resulted in increased notoriety.
