Kiyochika: Dutch man and woman (Sold)

Artist: Kobayashi Kiyochika
Title: Dutch man and woman

A western man lights a pipe, a flaxen-haired younger woman at his side. This seems to be a unique impression of a work that was probably somewhat experimental. It is in the shape of an uchiwa, or fan and would have been cut out and pasted on an actual summer fan. Note the grey keyblock done in an extremely loose sketching style, as if drawn by a western pen. Also unusual are the treatment of shadows and use of multiple blocks to give depth, all borrowed from the west. The western subject and setting are also unique to this print. It could also have been a sort of advertisement, perhaps for tobacco, as there is no publisher information, etc. The intense focus of both the man and the pretty woman on the tobacco lends weight to this idea.

Condition: Excellent impression and color. Very good condition. Binding holes along right and some surface soiling along edges.
Dimensions: ôban
Literature: Unpublished.
Signature: Shinsei (?) Kiyochika

SKU: KYC220