Vapor
- Date:
- October 1929
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 41 × 26.2 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
Description
Steam (yuge) rises from bathwater, enveloping the woman before it in warm vapor. This October 1929 print renders the subject through ink and color on paper, capturing the sensory richness of the bathhouse — its warmth, its wet air, the softening of the body in hot water. The steam serves as both subject and atmosphere, its rising columns providing vertical structure to a composition that might otherwise be entirely horizontal. Kotondo brings to the subject the same quiet attention he gave to women dressing, combing their hair, or applying cosmetics.
More Prints by Torii Kotondo
More Nude Prints
Tsuta Hot Springs in Mutsu Province (Mutsu Tsuta onsen), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, First Series (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Mutsu Tsuta onsen
1919
Color woodblock print; oban
Namari Spa, Iwate Prefecture (Iwate ken Namari onsen)
1943
Color woodblock print
Autumn at the Arayu Hot Spring, Shiobara
Autumn 1920
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Arifuku Spa, Iwami, from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series" (Tabi miyage dai sanshu, Iwami Arifuku onsen)
1924
Color woodblock print
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vapor was created by Torii Kotondo (鳥居言人) in October 1929.
Vapor was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (October 1929).
Vapor depicts nude, bijin-ga, and daily life.
Vapor measures 41 × 26.2 cm (Oban format).