Details

Caught in a moment of contemplation, a beauty pauses and advances her glance far off to the left, well-beyond grasp of the viewer. At this opportune moment, Shinsui presents us with an occasion to admire this view uninterrupted. The woman is dressed in a fine traditional kimono. Although the garment’s textile showcases an autumnal theme, its bright pastels recall the warmer days of spring. The design’s background with tones of light brown and gray printed with extensive use of baren sujizuri, or swirls, adding a tactile quality that is more in line with the autumnal theme. 

Connoisseur's Note

Ito Shinsui's post-war bijin-ga are a sweet spot of value for collectors, as they are priced significantly less than his pre-war prints and, in stark contrast to the small fortunes his pre-earthquake designs demand. Given the larger scale, these postwar designs show quite well in a contemporary setting and often contain more deluxe printing effects, such as is the case with this design.