Woman in Blue Kimono
青い着物の女
by Ito Shinsui
- Date:
- 1922
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
Typical Price
Rich indigo fabric dominates this composition, demanding exceptional skill from the Watanabe workshop printers to achieve uniform color depth. Pre-earthquake editions command $4,000-$14,000, while later impressions sell for $1,500-$4,500. The quality of the blue pigment is a key determinant of value, with early impressions showing the richest saturation.
Description
A seated woman in a richly patterned blue kimono looks downward with a contemplative expression. The intricate textile patterns of the kimono are rendered in extraordinary detail, showcasing the printer''s skill in registering multiple color blocks. The woman''s quiet, inward mood lends the composition an air of refined melancholy.
