Maiko
- Date:
- c. 1929
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 35.9 × 27 cm
- Publisher:
- Yoshida Studio
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
This 1920s print from the heart of Yoshida's jizuri period represents his mature shin-hanga technique. Standard jizuri prints of Japanese landscapes cluster around $2,149 (1stDibs dealer benchmark). The jizuri seal — indicating Yoshida personally supervised printing — is the single most important value driver, typically doubling the price over non-jizuri lifetime impressions.
A maiko is an apprentice geisha, and Yoshida's circa 1929 portrait captures one of these iconic figures of Kyoto's entertainment district with the formal precision that distinguishes his figural work. The maiko's elaborate hair ornaments, layered kimono, and characteristic makeup are rendered with an attention to textile pattern and surface detail that reflects Yoshida's oil-painting training. Unlike the idealized [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) tradition, Yoshida's approach suggests an observed individual — a specific person in specific light, not merely an archetype of feminine beauty.
$800
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Maiko was created by Hiroshi Yoshida (吉田博) in c. 1929.
Maiko was published by Yoshida Studio (c. 1929).
Maiko depicts bijin-ga.
Maiko measures 35.9 × 27 cm (Oban format).
