Kunisada: Beauty Washing Her Hair 今川はし (SOLD)

Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (1786-1865)
Title: Beauty Washing Her Hair 今川はし (Imagawa Bashi)
Series: One Hundred Beautiful Women at Famous Places in Edo 江戸名所百人美女 Edo Meisho Hyakunin Bijo:
Date: 1858

A beauty leans over a metal basin, combing the water from her long tresses as she washes her long hair. We see a brush and two combs laid out beside her, along with a towel and a fabric pouch that might contain hair accessories. Imagawa-bashi, or Imagawa bridge is shown in the inset, the cartouche landscape signed by Kunihisa. Imagawa Bridge is near what is now JR Kanda Railway Station, and in the Edo period there were many ceramic ware shops in the area. Her robe, which has been pulled down to bare her upper body, has been printed with a beautiful and complex pattern that must have been very difficult to carve from a woodblock. The way her hair combines with the waves in the basin is also a lovely and unique touch.

Condition: Excellent impression and color; very good condition. Minor trimming.
Dimensions: ôban (36.8 x 24.8 cm)
Signature: Toyokuni ga

SKU: KUS504