Takahashi, Shotei (1871 - 1945)

Takahashi Shōtei (高橋松亭; February 20, 1871 –February 11, 1945) was a Japanese woodblock artist from Tokyo. His real name was Matsumoto Katsutaro (松本勝太郎), later Takatashi Katsutaro (高橋勝太郎). He studied art with his artist uncle, Matumoto Fūko (松本楓湖) as a child. He got adopted by a Takahashi family. His gō (号) or artist names include Shōtei (松亭), Hiroaki (弘明) and Kakei (佳恵). At the age of around 15-16, he worked at the Imperial Household Department of Foreign affairs to design clothing by copying design of foreign medals. In 1891, he co-founded the Japan Youth Painting Society (Nihon Seinen Kaiga Kyōkai; 日本青年絵画協会) with Okakura Kakuzo (岡倉覚三), Terasaki Kogyo (寺崎広業), Ogata Gekkō (尾形月耕) and some others. He produced many prints and illustrations. He was also involved in producing reproductions of older ukiyo-e prints and in the shin hanga (new prints) movement.