Kotondo is best known for bijin-ga, but his complete oeuvre includes actor prints and other figure subjects. His small corpus of only 21 designs ensures that all authenticated period impressions carry collector interest and scarcity premiums.
A woman applies crimson rouge to her lips using a small brush, her eyes focused on her reflection with intense concentration. The vivid red of the rouge provides a striking accent against the pale tones of her face and the muted colors of her kimono. The precision of her gesture and the delicacy of the moment create a compelling study of beauty as performance.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Rouge (口紅) was created by Torii Kotondo (鳥居言人) in 1929.
Rouge was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1929).
Rouge depicts figures, bijin-ga, and portraits.
