Ishii Tsuruzo: Awabi Diver Combing Her Hair

Artist: Ishii Tsuruzô (1887-1973)
Title: Awabi Diver Combing Her Hair 海辺梳髪  Date: 1948

A topless woman stands on a rock on the shore, combing out her wet hear as she bends forward. Her expression seems patiently contemplative. There is a small wooden boat in the background with two passengers. We may infer that this is an awabi diver (Ama), as the rocky shoreline setting, her bare feet and clothing of a red underskirt beneath a cotton robe all point to this profession. At the time of this print, there were still thousands of women who were professionally free-diving for shellfish, mostly abalone. Traditionally, and as recently as the 1960s, Ama dived wearing only a loincloth. Ishii Tsuruzô was a painter, sculptor and printmaker who studied at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, graduating in 1910. He had an active role in the sosaku hanga movement, and was the younger brother of the artist Ishii Hakutei (1882-1958) and worked closely with Kanae Yamamoto.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. With some minor scratches in the sky. Dimensions: 29 x 21.3 cm
Publisher: Self-carved and self-printed

SKU: TSZ010