Mirror of the Ages - Published in 1897, Chikanobu's beautiful series "Mirror of the Ages" celebrates the beauty and fashions of women of the past. Each print in this delightful series features a single portrait of a young beauty, always carefully and stylishly made up, wearing the traditional contemporary fashion of her time. In the rectangular inset above the figure, Chikanobu has drawn a scene from the same time period suggesting a place where one might see this young beauty. This wonderful series was printed to the highest quality with fine line work and soft shading, and often with additional embellishments, such as delicate embossing or burnishing. A lovely series and collector's favorite.

The Meiji Era (1868 - 1912) - Charming portrait of a young woman smiling happily as she looks over her shoulder, her open lips showing tiny, even white teeth. Her hair is swept back into a smooth bun, adorned with an ornate lacquer comb with swallows in flight, a floral hairpin, and a tasseled ornament. She wears a dark blue kimono with a gray print, the collar of her under robe softly shaded in purple. Beautiful fine line work in the hair, with delicate pink shading about the eyes. The scene above shows a boat race on the Sumida River, with two teams rowing with all their might. A lovely design.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 12 7/8" x 8 1/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Creasing and soiling. A few prints have a few small holes, repaired. A few prints have small stains. Please see photos for details. Generally in good condition overall.