Keith | Camel Back Bridge

Elizabeth Keith (1887-1956)

Elizabeth Keith was one of the rare Western artists in the Shin Hanga or “New Print” movement, and one of even fewer women. Her designs were clean and elegant, with a subtle pallette, and found considerable popularity in Europe at a time when the Western world was fascinated by Asia and all-things-Japan.

Born in Scotland, she first travelled to Japan when she was 28 and stayed for nine years, beginning her career as a professional artists by exhibting her watercolors. But Japan was merely her home base: she travelled often to China and Korea, countries for whom she seemed to have a strong affinity, and it is the designs she created depicting those countries that are her most renowned today.

They were never produced in great numbers, and are thus quite expensive and sought-after.