July - At the Beach
- Date:
- 1898
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Source:
- Art of Japan
Typical Price
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
"July — At the Beach" from 1898 places the beach scene in its specific seasonal context: the height of Japanese summer, when the coastal resorts filled with Meiji Japan's growing middle class seeking relief from urban heat. Shuntei renders the beach with attention to the specific activities and social dynamics of the summer seaside: the interplay of women and children, the relationship between water and shore, the specific quality of summer seaside light. The beach in July represents modernity as much as leisure — the organized resort as a product of Japan's new infrastructure.
