Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties"
by Ito Shinsui
- Date:
- 1922
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 43.4 × 26.4 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
by Ito Shinsui
Shinsui's Taisho-era bijin-ga are his most coveted works. His early masterpieces like "Before the Mirror" (1916) fetch GBP 52,920 (~$67,000) at Sotheby's. The most iconic designs from the "Modern Beauties" series approach these heights with fresh, vivid original colors.
The lightweight cotton kimono known as a yukata—the summer garment par excellence, worn to festivals and outdoor gatherings—is worn by the woman in this 1922 print from the "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" series. The yukata, with its simple dyeing and casual construction, was the opposite of the formal kimono's elaborate structure, and its appearance in bijin-ga signals summer informality, outdoor pleasure, and a relaxed social setting. Shinsui's rendering of the cotton fabric's texture distinguishes it clearly from silk.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" was created by Ito Shinsui (伊東深水) in 1922.
Yes — Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" is part of the New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties series by Ito Shinsui.
Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1922).
Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" depicts bijin-ga.
Cotton Kimono, from the series "New Twelve Images of Modern Beauties" measures 43.4 × 26.4 cm (Oban format).
