Beauties Playing - Interesting image of two young women playfully wrestling, one taking the other by the wrist as she clasps her other hand. The seated woman wears an informal gray and white plaid kimono tied with a black obi, her hair tied back with a narrow white sash. he companion is dressed in a striped tan robe with an orange obi, a round fan tucked into her waist at her back. An unusual image to find in reprint, nicely detailed with fine line work in the hair and eyebrows.

Woodblock reprints - In the 20th century, artists and publishers collaborated to recreate famous woodblock prints for interested Japanese collectors and Westerners looking for rare designs. New blocks were made, and the prints were painstakingly printed by artisan printers in the same method as the 19th century originals - one block for each color. Woodblock reprints were an opportunity to collect and enjoy a famous design at a small fraction of the price of an original. They still are today.

Artist - Utamaro (1750 - 1806)

Image Size - 15" x 10" + margins as shown

Condition - Excellent overall with no issues to report.