Spring Breeze
春風
- Date:
- 1930
- Medium:
- Color woodblock print
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
Typical Price
A gentle seasonal subject, "Spring Breeze" (Harukaze) shows a woman with garments and hair stirred by wind, conveying motion within a still image. The dynamic composition is unusual among Kotondo's typically serene poses. Lifetime editions sell for $4,000-$10,000, with posthumous versions available at $2,000-$4,000. Intact mica backgrounds significantly increase value.
Description
A young woman stands in a gentle spring breeze that stirs the sleeves of her kimono and lifts a few strands of hair from her elaborately styled coiffure. The subtle movement created by the wind adds dynamism to the typically static bijin-ga format. Cherry blossoms drift through the air, completing the picture of spring''s arrival.
