Mizuno Toshikata

Mizuno Toshikata, born in Edo as Kumejiro Nonaka, was a Japanese artist who served as a bridge between traditional ukiyo-e and modern Japanese printmaking. He began studying ukiyo-e at the age of fourteen under Tsukioka Yoshitoshi, but had to interrupt his studies due to the bizarre behavior of his master, which his father could not accept. Despite this, he continued his education with various teachers, exploring different styles and subjects including Western-style painting and rendering. He later returned to Yoshitoshi`s studio, where the master, impressed by his talent, designated him as his successor.
During his career, Toshikata worked as an illustrator for the "Yamato Shinbun" newspaper and produced lithographs for the literary magazine "Shinshosetsu", as well as sensō-e (war prints) during the Sino-Japanese War. He is best known for his works such as bijinga (pictures of beautiful women), kuchi-e (frontispieces) used for literary magazines and novels, and his prints depicting the modernizing Japan of the Meiji era.
Among his students were key figures of the Shin Hanga movement such as Kaburagi Kiyokata, who taught Itō Shinsui and Kawase Hasui.
Toshikata died of overwork at the age of forty-two in 1908. His legacy continues to be studied for its artistic and historical value, reflecting his crucial role in the evolution of Japanese printing.