Near perfect condition. There are no stains, creases, holes, or tears. The printed lines remain exceptionally sharp, and the colors are vivid and beautifully preserved, making this an outstanding display piece.
This large-format hand-printed woodblock reprint was produced during the early Shōwa period (circa 1930s–early 1940s) by the Takamizawa Research Institute (高見澤研究所). It faithfully reproduces Fūryū Keshō Mokufuku Kagami (富世粧黙服鏡, Fashionable Silent Costume Mirror), originally designed around 1767–1768 by Isoda Koryūsai.
The composition depicts an elegantly dressed woman carrying a brilliant red paper umbrella while a decorative hand mirror in the upper left reflects offerings associated with Kanda Myōjin, including ceremonial shrine objects. Her beautifully patterned kimono features intricate geometric and seasonal motifs characteristic of fashionable dress during the Meiwa period, combining refined portraiture with symbolic references to Edo's religious and cultural traditions.
This design belongs to Koryūsai's celebrated Fūryū Keshō Mokufuku Kagami series, which paired elegant women with recognizable shrines, landmarks, and seasonal customs familiar to Edo audiences. Koryūsai was one of the leading ukiyo-e masters of the eighteenth century and played a pivotal role in the development of bijin-ga, bridging the artistic styles that preceded the masterpieces of Torii Kiyonaga and Kitagawa Utamaro.
Produced before the Second World War, Takamizawa Research Institute became renowned for creating some of the finest ukiyo-e reproductions ever made. Their craftsmen carved entirely new cherrywood blocks and used traditional hand-printing techniques and pigments to recreate classic designs with extraordinary accuracy. Today, Takamizawa editions are highly regarded in their own right for the exceptional quality of their craftsmanship.
A superb prewar Japanese woodblock reprint that faithfully preserves one of Koryūsai's finest eighteenth-century bijin-ga, making it an outstanding addition to any collection of traditional Japanese prints.
