$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 presents an advertising image for Sapporo Beer, one of Japan's oldest and most prominent breweries, founded in 1876 during the Meiji government's industrialization of Hokkaido. Igawa Sengai's design for this poster demonstrates how [shin-hanga](/glossary/shin-hanga) woodblock technique was applied to commercial purposes in early 20th-century Japan. Beer advertising in this period frequently featured beautiful women as brand ambassadors, merging the [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) tradition with modern consumer culture. The woman in the poster likely holds or sits near a bottle or glass of Sapporo beer, her elegance transferring its associations to the product. The woodblock medium gave these commercial prints a handmade quality that distinguished them from the lithographic and photographic advertising that was becoming dominant. Sapporo's iconic star logo may appear somewhere in the composition, identifying the brand within the decorative scene.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Sapporo Beer Poster was created by Igawa Sengai (井川洗崖).
Sapporo Beer Poster depicts figures, bijin-ga, and food & drink.
