Customs and Manners of Women - Handsome design from Gekko's classic beauty series "The Customs and Manners of Women". Published in the 1890s, these prints are a window into the daily lives of women in Japan. Beauties are shown engaged in all manner of activities - enjoying a garden, arranging flowers, practicing an instrument, and serving tea. Produced in the Meiji era when Westernization was sweeping Japan, these prints idealize the traditional lifestyles of women in Japan that were beginning to disappear. Gekko's prints are a unique union of traditional elements and a modern artistic sensibility. These fine portraits have a distinct sense of personality and the beautiful settings reflect traditional landscape and architecture, with soft colors against light backgrounds.

Special detail - Burnishing on the black lacquer trays and the trim of the screen, metallic pigment that has oxidized to a dark tone on the full moon on the screen, embossed landscape view with mountains and trees across the background.

Artist - Gekko (1859 - 1920)

Image Size - 12 3/4" x 8 3/4" + margins as shown

Condition - This print with excellent color and detail as shown. Slight creasing, a few spots. Please see photos for details.