Goyo completed only 14 woodblock print designs before his death in 1921, making every genuine impression extraordinarily rare. His bijin-ga are among the most refined of the entire shin-hanga movement. "Woman at the Bath" achieved $40,075 at Bonhams New York in 2020; Sotheby's estimates of $15,000–$25,000 are typical for top examples.
A woman kneeling in the bath, combing her wet hair — one of the most physically complex of Goyo's bathing subjects, the figure engaged simultaneously in the bathing environment and in the hair-care task that required both hands and considerable time. The kneeling posture, the wet hair, and the physical concentration required for combing combine to create a figure of complete absorption in physical self-maintenance. Goyo renders this moment of unguarded privacy with consistent respect for his subject's dignity.
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
1919
Color woodblock print; oban
1943
Color woodblock print
Autumn 1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
1924
Color woodblock print
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Woman Kneeling in the Bath and Combing Her Hair was created by Hashiguchi Goyo (橋口五葉) in 1920.
Woman Kneeling in the Bath and Combing Her Hair was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1920).
Woman Kneeling in the Bath and Combing Her Hair depicts nude, figures, and bijin-ga.
