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 Shiba Kanasugichō (芝金杉町), one of the celebrated designs by Keisai Eisen.
The composition depicts a fashionable woman seated beneath a mosquito net on a warm summer day. She delicately holds a folded cloth in her mouth while adjusting her clothing, surrounded by a porcelain wash basin and a round uchiwa fan that reinforce the seasonal setting. An inset landscape identifies the location as Shiba Kanasugichō, with the rooftops of Zōjō-ji visible in the distance.
Shiba Kanasugichō was a well-known district of Edo located near Zōjō-ji Temple and the Tōkaidō approach into the city. Eisen's composition combines an intimate domestic moment with a recognizable city landmark, blending bijin-ga and meisho-e in a style that became one of the defining characteristics of his mature work.
Keisai Eisen was one of the foremost masters of late Edo bijin-ga, celebrated for his elegant female figures, refined compositions, and subtle portrayals of fashionable urban life. His prints capture not only the beauty of their subjects but also the atmosphere and daily customs of nineteenth-century Edo.
Produced before the Second World War, Takamizawa Research Institute became renowned for creating some of the finest ukiyo-e reproductions ever made. Using newly carved cherrywood blocks, traditional pigments, and hand-printing techniques, Takamizawa craftsmen faithfully recreated Japan's greatest woodblock masterpieces with exceptional accuracy.
A superb prewar hand-printed woodblock reprint that combines Eisen's graceful bijin-ga with one of Edo's historic neighborhoods, making it an outstanding addition to any collection of Japanese woodblock prints.
