Takehisa Yumeji - Takehisa Yumeji was a leading artist and illustrator in Japan during the Taisho era. His romantic portraits of contemporary young women were extremely popular, and he designed many woodblock prints for newspapers, women's magazines, and book covers. His slender, languid women are drawn with expressive line work, and sometimes have a naive, almost childlike quality. Yumeji's work found an enthusiastic following in Japan, and today, there is a museum devoted to him in Okayama, his birthplace. While there was little foreign interest in his work prior to his death in 1934, in subsequent decades Yumeji's prints have become very popular and highly sought after by collectors. 

Comments - Lovely portrait of a pensive looking beauty in autumn, as softly colored leaves fall to the ground around her. She holds a small red cloth in one hand, her other smoothing her hairstyle as she looks thoughtfully out at the viewer. She wears a brown and tan striped kimono tied with a deep red obi. The flashes of dark red at the sleeve, waist, cloth, and sandals move the eye along the page nicely, and the vertical stripes emphasize the slender figure. A charming, sensitive image. This woodblock was carved by Matsunaga Yasuo, who was designated by Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs as a "Holder of Important Skills." It comes from a limited edition of 300 prints published in 1993. A wonderful choice for display.

Carver - Matsunaga Yasuo
Numbered - 14/300

Artist - Takehisa Yumeji (1884 - 1934)

Image Size - 16 1/4" x 5 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - In pristine condition with no issues to report. This print has full margins and has never been mounted.