UTAGAWA TOYOHARU (1735?1814) JAPANESE UKIYO-E WOODBLOCK PRINT AFTER THE EDO PERIOD MASTER, 13IN x

拍品描述

A refined ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock print after the celebrated Edo-period artist Utagawa Toyoharu (1735–1814) titled Elegant Courtesans on a Veranda Overlooking a Harbor. Toyoharu is the founder of the influential Utagawa school and one of the earliest Japanese artists to introduce Western perspective into ukiyo-e print design. The composition depicts three elegantly dressed women on a veranda overlooking a tranquil coastal harbor, with boats anchored offshore and distant mountains visible across the water. The figures wear elaborately patterned kimono and traditional coiffures with hair ornaments, representing the fashionable courtesan culture of the Edo period. At left, a standing woman gazes toward the seated figures while a companion attends to the hair of another woman, creating an intimate domestic scene set against the expansive landscape beyond. Toyoharu was a pioneering artist who developed uki-e (perspective pictures)—prints that incorporated Western-style linear perspective learned from European engravings that entered Japan through Nagasaki trade routes. This blending of architectural interiors with sweeping landscapes became a defining characteristic of his work and later influenced generations of artists in the Utagawa lineage. This example appears to be a later Japanese impression after the original Edo-period design, printed on thin Japanese paper in the traditional vertical format. The balanced composition, subtle palette, and elegant subject matter make it a visually striking example of classical Japanese decorative printmaking. This appears to be a later Japanese reproduction impression after an Edo-period Harunobu design, likely produced mid-20th century (c. 1930–1950). This piece was examined outside of the frame and it has good overall appearance with light age toning and minor edge wear consistent with age. This piece is double matted and framed under acrylic in a wooden frame. With frame, this measures 13 inches x 17 inches. Acquired from a Metro Washington DC estate., 13IN x 17IN (33cm x 43cm), LOT REF #26-309

图片