by Igawa Sengai
$200–$1,500. Common landscapes: $200–$500. Key value factors: Igawa's landscape prints are affordably priced. Atmospheric scenes in good condition are most collectible.
This [oban](/glossary/oban) woodblock print shows a woman at rest, her posture conveying ease rather than the formal composure typical of standing [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) portraits. Relaxing figures in Japanese prints often recline on cushions, lean against an armrest, or sit in an informal position that allows the kimono to fall in natural folds rather than the structured draping of a standing pose. Igawa Sengai uses this informal setting to reveal aspects of the figure that formal portraits conceal: the angle of the neck when the head is tilted in thought, the way fabric pools around a seated body, and the vulnerability of an unguarded expression. The oban format accommodates the horizontal orientation that a reclining or semi-reclining figure demands. The printer would have paid particular attention to the kimono's folds, using multiple blocks to build up the pattern as it follows the body's contours rather than hanging in flat, vertical panels.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Bijin Relaxing (1) was created by Igawa Sengai (井川洗崖).
Bijin Relaxing (1) depicts bijin-ga.
