Japanese Woodblock Print, originally designed c. 1780, this edition is Showa era published by Watanabe from recarved woodblocks, with round 7mm publisher's seal at lower right corner of image

SIZE IN INCHES: oban, 10.25 x 15.5 inches

COMMENTS: A young woman smokes her pipe while seated on a bench near a pond. Two other young Japanese beauties linger nearby enjoying the iris blooms at the edge of the pond.

TORII KIYONAGA (1752-1815) studied under Torii Kiyomitsu and headed the Torii school upon his master’s death. He painted scenes of everyday Japanese life and also produced prints of the Kabuki theater in the ukiyo-e style. He began to paint in a more naturalistic style in the 1770’s that influenced fellow artist Utamaro.

Kiyonaga is considered one of the great masters of the full-color nishiki-e print and of bijin-ga, images of courtesans and other beautiful women. Like most ukiyo-e artists, however, he also produced a number of prints and paintings depicting Kabuki actors and related subjects, many of them promotional materials for the theaters. He also produced a number of shunga, or erotic images, including two adaptations of Harunobo's Zashiki Hakkei.

Fine, no flaws