Applying make-up and new Japan.

This bijin-ga depicts a woman applying cosmetics, a traditional subject in Japanese printmaking, here reframed within the context of Meiji modernization. The juxtaposition of the intimate feminine ritual of make-up application with the phrase 'new Japan' suggests a commentary on the coexistence of tradition and modernity during the rapid social transformations of the Meiji period. The figure likely wears a combination of Western and Japanese dress, or the setting includes contemporary furnishings alongside traditional objects, creating the visual tension the title implies. Kiyochika's treatment of the bijin subject differs from Edo-period predecessors: his interest in light and reflection translates naturally to the mirror and cosmetics scene, where polished surfaces and subtle facial illumination showcase his atmospheric technique.