Tamamuraya Ohide and Tomimoto Toyoshina - Interesting scene depicting two of the geisha who performed at the Niwaka Festival in the Yoshiwara relaxing on a verandah. The seated beauty has a shamisen on her lap as she holds out a red lacquer sake cup, a white cloth caught between her teeth. Her companion looks down as she adjusts a hairpin, the breeze blowing her loose hair around her. Both women have hair styled in a man's topknot, part of their attire for the festival as the woman dressed as samurai. At lower right, a songbook can be seen inside the black lacquer shamisen case. The first time we've seen this attractive design.

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 9 7/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with nice color and detail as shown. A few light creases. Please see photos for details.