Tatsudoshi (Year Of the Dragon) by Senju Shunga

Welcome to the year of the dragon! As the first day of February dawns upon us, I bring you my latest work ”Tatsudoshi (year of the dragon)”. I strongly feel that. this new year will bring change an new energy to my art. For quite some time, I have felt that all these past years of delving deeply and wholeheartedly into the study of Japanese culture and art is guiding me to a moment where everything I have learned start to converge. Perhaps you can call it new, even though I borrow so from, and lean so heavily on, all the artists that have come before me. I am deeply grateful towards all of them. ”Tatsudoshi” is inspired by 1920s Japan. A time where the country had already been steadily and quickly modernizing and westernizing for more than fifty years.

Fig.1. Tatsudoshi (year of the dragon), 1 February 2024

Confusion and Pain

Even so, amidst all the confusion and pain of being born again, traditional Japanese culture and art continued to find a way to remain within the hearts of the Japanese people. As the flapper girl fashion, bringing new hairstyles and shades of make up, swept through Tokyo, kimono was still the most common garment for women. This unique way of combining the new with the old, finding new forms forms of old traditions and deep roots, has been one of the key inspirations for my work up to this point. I will continue to rely on its magic for as long as possible.

Fig.1a

Fig.1b

The "Tatsudoshi" print is available on his site.

Click HERE for the influence of the Shin Hanga artist Shotei Takahashi on Senju Shunga