RARE EDO PERIOD KIKUGAWA EIZAN (1787?1867) ORIGINAL JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINT, KAKEMONO-E VERTICAL

拍品描述

An exceptional and highly decorative original Edo-period Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock print by celebrated bijin-ga master Kikugawa Eizan (1787?1867), depicting an elegant courtesan reading a letter. Executed in the scarce kakemono-e (vertical diptych) format, this striking composition was designed to emulate the appearance of a traditional hanging scroll and remains among the most desirable formats sought by collectors of Japanese woodblock prints. Eizan is widely recognized as one of the foremost successors to Kitagawa Utamaro and among the most accomplished artists of the golden age of Japanese bijin-ga ("pictures of beautiful women"). His refined depictions of fashionable women helped define the aesthetic ideals of the late Edo period and remain highly sought after by collectors and museums worldwide. The composition captures a beautifully attired courtesan absorbed in reading a letter, creating a subtle narrative rarely found in more conventional portrait studies. Her elaborate coiffure, adorned with numerous kanzashi hair ornaments, contrasts elegantly with the flowing floral kimono rendered in delicate colors and intricate patterns. The result is a sophisticated image that combines artistic refinement with the timeless appeal of Edo-period Japanese beauty imagery. Particularly noteworthy is the rare kakemono-e format. Produced in significantly smaller numbers than standard ukiyo-e sheets, these elongated vertical diptychs were intended to replicate the visual impact of hanging scroll paintings and today represent some of the most desirable and difficult-to-find formats in Japanese print collecting. The sheet without frame measures approximately 9.5 inches x 29.5 inches. Evidence of age, toning, historic mounting, folds, and wear are consistent with an authentic nineteenth-century impression and contribute to its historical character. This diptych was acquired from TK Asian Antiquities and is accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity issued by Michael C. Teller IV of TK Asian Antiquities, a respected specialist in Japanese woodblock prints and Asian art. This piece is double matted and framed under acrylic in a silver toned frame. With frame, this piece measures 18 inches x 42 inches.

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