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 Ukiyo Jūhachi Heki no Uchi (浮世十八癖之内, Eighteen Habits of the Floating World), specifically the design Enfu Kagami Kuzuse (艶婦鏡癖, Habit of Looking into the Mirror), originally created around 1822–1823 by Keisai Eisen.
The composition depicts a fashionable woman seated before an elegant dressing stand as she studies her reflection in a hand mirror. Cosmetic implements, hairdressing tools, and a finely lacquered mirror stand surround her, emphasizing the ritual of personal grooming. An inset landscape references a celebrated location in Edo, linking the intimate domestic scene with one of the city's famous places.
This design belongs to Eisen's celebrated Ukiyo Jūhachi Heki no Uchi series, which explored the everyday habits and customs of fashionable women in nineteenth-century Edo. Each print focused on a different characteristic or pastime, blending graceful portraiture with subtle humor and observations of contemporary urban life.
Keisai Eisen was one of the foremost masters of late Bunka and Bunsei bijin-ga, renowned for his elegant female figures, expressive faces, and richly patterned textiles. His works captured the fashions and refinement of Edo while offering a glimpse into the daily routines and private lives of its stylish inhabitants.
Produced before the Second World War, Takamizawa Research Institute became famous 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 the beauty and craftsmanship of Japan's greatest woodblock masterpieces.
A superb prewar hand-printed woodblock reprint that preserves one of Eisen's most celebrated bijin-ga series, making it an outstanding addition to any collection of Japanese art or traditional woodblock prints.
