Expo '70 Selected Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e Prints - To celebrate the opening of Expo '70, a world's fair held in Osaka, Japan in 1970, a woodblock reprint series of "Selected Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e" was commissioned. Featuring works from the Hiraki Collection, the renown Adachi Publisher of Tokyo produced the series of 12 prints with classic subjects by master artists such as Utamaro, Sharaku, Hiroshige, and Hokusai (see example of series label below, not included). These beautifully printed designs are finely detailed, and many feature deluxe publishing treatments such as mica or embossing. Each woodblock has a stamp on the reverse reading "T. Adachi/Made in Japan." We've never come across prints from this unusual commemorative series before. A great opportunity to acquire a high-quality ukiyo-e reprint with an interesting history.

Comments - Beautiful design of a young woman as the Heron Maiden, standing alongside the edge of a stream, an umbrella over her shoulder. She wears a deeply embossed white kimono tied with a black obi, a white scarf draped over her head. The brushwood garden fence behind her is covered with snow, and a willow tree frames the gray winter sky above. The edges of her scarf and the piles of snow are also embossed, which gives them a gently rounded appearance, a special technique known as kimekomi or kimedashi. A lovely design we've never seen in reprint before, beautifully detailed.

Artist - Harunobu (1724 - 1770)

Image Size - 11 1/4" x 8 1/2" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight toning. Please see photos for details. Good overall.