A Beauty

Wonderful woodblock print "Bijin" (A Beauty) is by Kokan Shiba (1728-1800). From the series "The Nippon Mokuhan Gashu" (Masterpieces of Old Japanese Colour prints). The publisher is Bijutsusha in Tokyo. Printed in 1928. (Showa 3 nen) Truly elegant Bijin print with amazing details. You can see beautiful woodgrain on the Fusuma door (blue). Please see the pictures.  Judging from the composition, the picture must have been painted by Kokan Shiba, though there is no pseudonym of the painter in the picture. Born in Edo in 1728, the artist was commonly colled Fugen Dojin or Shumparo and studied painting under Soshiseki. Then his skill of depicting beauties were admired.  Later on, he came to Nagasaki, where he studied foreign style pictures. After returning to Edo, he was engaged in copper-plates for oil paintings. He achieved the undying reputation by this "Eight Views of the City" The artist died in 1800 at the of 72. Technique: Woodblock Paper size: 7 and 3/4 inches by 12 inches (19.6 x