Bijin Applying Makeup (descriptive title)

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.