Praise for Multi-colored Blossoms - Chikanobu's lovely series "Praise for Multi-colored Blossoms" presents portraits of famous geisha and courtesans from various teahouses. The "multi-colored blossoms" of the title refers to the women, who are shown relaxing in their spare time, enjoying gardens, arriving or leaving, or taking part in seasonal and daily activities. The settings and elegant fabrics are beautifully detailed and vibrantly colored. A band across the top features a scene with a fan-shaped inset at right identifying the subject.

Beauties of the Shinagawaro and Nakanomachi, 1884 - Lovely scene of two beauties from the Shinagawaro and Nakanomachi playing music in a room overlooking a garden. One beauty strums a koto while her companion holds a shamisen. The woman at right wears an interesting outer robe patterned with a view of Mt. Fuji and a courtier traveling on horseback with his attendant. The inset at upper left shows an actor as the samurai Iwagana in the scene commonly known as "Akoya," in which the courtesan Akoya is forced to play the koto in an effort to reveal the whereabouts of her lover. Beautifully colored and detailed.

Artist - Chikanobu (1838 - 1912)

Image Size - 13" x 8 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight thinning at corner, repaired. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Nice overall.