<b>WOMAN BEFORE A MIRROR</b>Natori Shunsen1928$4,000</em>

Details

Understanding theatre, Shunsen sets the stage for a striking bijin-ga composition. The work’s background is abuzz with circular marks of the barren work that give depth and texture to the composition. The striking deep blue kimono that loosely drapes over the female figure accentuates the drama of the scene. The kimono is rendered in tonalities of blue that oscillate between the color of the ocean’s inner depths to lighter shades found on the water’s surface. The garment’s fish pattern reinforces the active quality of the kimono with its motif swimming through the robe’s myriad of folds. The obi held in the grasp of the woman’s mouth compels the viewer’s eye to advance beyond the depth of the kimono toward her striking face, revealing one of the artist’s most captivating portraits.

Connoisseur's Note

This rare design was published by Watanabe in an edition of 150, this impression is numbered 147/150 (see an image of the seal located on the verso of the print below). The barren work in the background, the sharp and vivid color palette, and the array of intricate and delicate lines throughout the composition attest to Watanabe’s skillful array of artisans. This impression is in an astonishing state of preservation. Having never been framed or displayed for extended periods, this print’s colors are a true time capsule to the day this impression was executed.