1964 After Kiyonaga "Contemporary Beauties of the Gay Quarters - Tachibana Street", Full-Color Print From Japan

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A fine large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Contemporary Beauties of the Gay Quarters - Tachibana Street" … Read more A fine large full-color Ukiyo-E Hanga print after original woodblock print "Contemporary Beauties of the Gay Quarters - Tachibana Street" by Kiyonaga (1752-1815). Comes from a rare Collection of 24 Masterpieces by Kiyonaga. Produced & published by Shuei-Sha, Tokyo, in July 1964. Printers: Toppan Printing Co., LTD. Printed on one side. Attached at the top to a board of heavy textured paper, covered with lighter sheet of paper for protection, numbered 3 on the label on the front of the cover. Excellent condition - minor edge wear on the board and cover, never framed, ready to be framed. Copy of the commentary by Mr. Sadao Kikuchi (below) in Japanese and English is included.

Overall (folded) 12.55"W x 18.20"H
Overall (unfolded) 25"W x 18.20"H
Image 10.30"W x 15.25"H

Commentary by Ukiyo-e Art consultant & editor Mr. Sadao Kikuchi:
Signature: signed KIYONAGA
Printers: Unidentified
In the possession of Mr. Kiyoshi Yokoi, Tokyo

Two Geisha girls here are dressed identically in blue silk, with long sleeves and sashes worn high and tight about the bust. They are holding hands in a sisterly fashion. The youth talking to the younger one is clad in the fashion of the typical playboy of his day, sporting a longish silk haori coat which has crismon silk lining, an appalling affectation by ordinary standards but he carries about him the generous, rich atmosphere of the Edo culture. The girl belongs to the class of "Furisode-Geisha" as the entertainers of Tachibana street were so called. The puffed up sidelocks characterize the coiffeur in fashion in the 2nd and 3rd years of Temmei (1782-1783).

This picture appears to be among the artist's early gay quarter series of which 21 subjects remain today in all. He took up his subjects in New-Yoshiwara, Shinagawa, and Tachibana Street and also at Ekoin Temple. These "Furisode-Geisha" girls are a new type categorized the "town-geisha" as distinct from the traditional courtesan. KIYONAGA shows himself conscious of the new social trends of his day and is making an independent stand away from the influence of Kitao Shigmasa, for instance. Here KIYONAGA has established his new female figure, healthy, slender and tall. See less