September Maiko

A bijin-ga depicting a maiko, an apprentice geisha of the Kyoto entertainment districts. The September title aligns the print with a transitional month in the Gion calendar, when seasonal kanzashi hair ornaments shift from summer fans and morning glories toward autumn motifs such as kikyo bellflowers or ears of rice. Sekino's portraits diverged from older Edo-period bijin-ga conventions by combining the established subject matter with a more individuated, almost photographic approach to facial structure, often using subtle bokashi on the cheeks and around the eyes to model form rather than relying solely on outline. As a sosaku-hanga artist who personally cut and printed his blocks, he balanced the decorative pattern work demanded by elaborate kimono and obi against the psychological focus of the sitter's face. The September designation places the work within a recurring interest in seasonal portraiture that runs across his career.