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 preparing to bathe, her image reflected in the water — a composition from the eighth month of Taisho 9 (1920) that introduces the doubled subject of woman and reflection, the physical body and its watery double. The reflection motif was central to Goyo's meditation on feminine self-image: the mirror and the reflective water surface both return the woman's image to her, and Goyo uses this doubling to create compositions of unusual psychological depth. The preparatory moment — before immersion — has a quality of charged anticipation.
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 Preparing to Bathe, Her Image Reflected in the Water, Taishô period, dated 1918 (8th month of Taishô 9) was created by Hashiguchi Goyo (橋口五葉) in Taishô period, 1912-1926.
Woman Preparing to Bathe, Her Image Reflected in the Water, Taishô period, dated 1918 (8th month of Taishô 9) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (Taishô period, 1912-1926).
Woman Preparing to Bathe, Her Image Reflected in the Water, Taishô period, dated 1918 (8th month of Taishô 9) depicts nude, figures, and bijin-ga.
