Details

An elegant woman pauses as sparse, but heavy drops of rain begin to fall. The composition is focused on a moment in time: a window that permits the viewer to gaze upon a vision that would normally be reserved for a few. Kotondo takes full advantage of his composition to provide not only a stunning vision of his bijin-ga but also a rousing demonstration of what is possible in the woodblock print medium. This impression boasts stunning saturated pigmentation that penetrates the plane of view and advances the figure boldly out toward the viewer. Moreover, every possible texture is presented. The under portion of the umbrella showcases extensive use of baren sujizuri, or swirls, adding a tactile quality, while bokashi, or color gradation, is found throughout the woman’s elaborate kimono, filling in the folds and highlighting the handmade tie of her obi.

Connoisseur's Note

This is one of Torii Kotondo's most successful designs and is in stunning museum-quality condition. All areas of this work are printed with utmost care and technical mastery that is unrivaled in bijin-ga. This print was produced by the famed publishing house of Kawaguchi & Sakai and bears a hand-applied label with the limited edition numeration on the reverse.