Ito Shinsui 伊東深水: Woman Wearing an Under-sash 伊達巻の女 (Sold)
Artist: Itō Shinsui (1898-1972)
Title: Woman Wearing an Under-sash 伊達巻の女 (Datemaki no Onna)
Date: 1921
A beauty is seen at her toilette affixing a hair comb in a masterful composition that shows her facing away from us, emphasizing the intimacy of the moment. A modern twist of the scene of a woman at her mirror, the eye here is drawn to the boldly checkered datemaki sash that was worn to secure an under kimono. Perhaps because this accessory was never seen by the public, it accentuates the privacy of this moment. Its tension on her slender waist is emphasized, and we also get a glimpse of her neck as she secures a comb, the neck being considered a highly erotic space by the Japanese. The mirror at left has a mica finish, and the beautiful bokashi effect on the shibori-patterned cushion gives her a sense of floating on air. The pink on her skin is still strongly apparent, indicating that there has been no fading at all. A scarce, pre-earthquake design in perfectly unfaded condition that is considered one of the artist’s best designs. From the first and only edition; sealed , numbered nine out of 200. Unusual elements include the limited edition seal being placed on the front (rather than the verso) and the title of the print being printed in soft grey in the left lower margin.
Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: ôban 43.6 x 26 cm
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo
Literature: Allen Hockley editor, The Women of Shin Hanga: The Judith and Joseph Barker Collection of Japanese Prints, 2013, p. 172, pl 36; Kato Junzo, Kindai Nihon hanga taikei, 1975-76, Vol. 1, pl. 180. Amy Newland and Chris Uhlenbeck, Ukiyo-e to Shin Hanga, 1990, p. 215. Tadasu Watanabe, Ito Shinsui: All the Woodblock Prints, 1992, p. 55, pl. 24. Amy Newland Reigle and Hamanaka Shinji, The Female Image, 2000, p. 53, pl. 31; Amy Newland Reigle, gen. ed., Printed to Perfection, 2004, p. 100, pl. 87.; See Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art
Signature: Shinsui saku
SKU: SNC108K