Item #154479 Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties. Masanobu Kitao.
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties
Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties

Yoshiwara keisei shin-bijin awase jihitsu kagami = Yoshiwara Courtesans: A New Mirror Comparing the Calligraphy of Beauties

Tokyo: Custom Emaki Image Publishing Society; Jichuan Hong Wen, 1917. Original. Hardcover Accordion Fold. Green paper/boards. Front cover has illustration and Japanese calligraphy. Accordion fold. Four pp. opening text (calligraphy), followed by 15 panels containing one continuous image, beautifully colored, of Japanese "beauties." 3 pp. text at end, followed by publication information. Fair. The color scroll image, while separated cleanly between the 8th/9th panels, is in Good/VG- condition with excellent color, and unmarked pages. Panels 9/10 (back-to-back) have a small tear/chip at upper outer corner, not affecting the image at all. Light age toning to page edges. Front cover is detaching, and paper covering the board is soiled and worn. Back cover is detached, and the paper detached from the board but present and chipped/soiled/torn. Ex-lib. sticker on lower front cover; bookplate inside back cover; presentation note (not from author/artist) in pencil on publication page. Item #154479

In spite of its condition, a beautiful continuous scroll of Japanese courtesans from Yoshiwara, the oldest/largest "red light" district in Tokyo. Prostitutes, courtesans, and Geishas all lived in the district, although with strict divisions among them. The women are portrayed in beautiful, colorful kimonos playing instruments, writing, serving tea, reading scrolls, doing art work, and more. Each panel contains faint calligraphic script in grey print, with red stamps/marks. The entire panel would look stunning when framed, thus showing its beauty in entirety. The artist is Kitao Masanobu (pseudonym for Santo Kyoden), a famous writer and artist of the Edo period. A scarce find.

Price: $800.00

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