Bijin Applying Makeup (descriptive title)
- Date:
- 1897
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Honolulu Museum of Art
Typical Price
Beauty subjects are especially sought after in this category. Key value factors: As self-carved and self-printed works, sosaku-hanga value is tied to the artist's reputation and edition size. Larger formats, earlier editions, and historically significant works command the highest prices.
- Common examples: $100–$500
- Good impressions: $500–$2,000
- Premium/scarce: $2,000–$10,000
Description
A bijin (beautiful woman) applying makeup — the morning toilette of cosmetic preparation that transformed the face for its social presentation — depicted in Shuntei's characteristic mode of intimate domestic observation. From 1897, this print engages a subject with deep roots in the bijin-ga tradition: the woman before her mirror, applying white powder, red lip color, and eyebrow paint in the specific manner appropriate to her social role and occasion. The makeup application scene was valued both for its intimate quality and its demonstration of the elaborate craft of feminine presentation.
