<b>KOTO PLAYER</b> / Kishio Koizumi1936$1,200</em>

Details

Although not known for portraits, Koizumi produced a handful of designs that showcased portraits throughout his career. This rarely seen design features a young woman clad in a kimono playing the koto. The long traditional instrument breaks free from Koizumi’s horizontal composition, extending well beyond its boundaries. A tasteful ikebana display accompanied by a kakemono adorned with Japanese calligraphy lays in the background, flanking the elegantly arranged composition. Koizumi’s portrait is a sophisticated interplay of cultural cues that no doubt was intended to summon patriotic feelings among the populace of the time.

Connoisseur's Note

Koizumi prints are not particularly easy to locate in the market. One often finds designs from his 100 Views of Great Tokyo in the Showa era, but those impressions are often the later reprintings. Unlike his landscapes, this portrait was not produced in great numbers, nor was it reprinted. This print bears the artist’s hand-applied stamp with the date in the lower right corner.

This impression is in excellent condition with pristine colors.