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TSUNETOMI, Kitano (1880 - 1947)		The heroine Umekawa in "Meido no Hikayuki" by Chikamatsu Monzaemon (print also found entitled: "Woman in snow")
		Sealed:                Tsunetomi Carver:               Yamagishi Kazue Printer:               Nishimura Kumakichi Date:                   1923 Size:                    dai oban tate-e (c.  45 x 29 cms / 17 3/4 x 11 3/8") Condition: Excellent impressiona and color. Very few minor fox marks (often encountered with this type of paper that was in use in Japan in the 1920s); fine overall condition. Striking technical highlights. - Please read below. ref. no.: # 756062 Price:  € 2,450.00

This design is almost an exaggerated example of an okubi-e ('large bust picture'), the head completely filling the picture plane. A similar composition, yet with a slightly different approach, appears in the print, Heron maiden. The above print (also labeled as the 'Small Heron Maiden') shows a number of elaborate printing highlights, such as a white mica background. Silver mica was applied to depict the hairpin and details of the purple garment. The snowflakes are depicted through the use of gofun (an opaque white pigment, often - as here - splashed on the print to imitate effects such as snow in a three-dimensional manner). It is not only the combination of printed and hand-applied pictorial elements, the perspective and an extreme close-up of the woman's face which makes this design so fascinating, but above all: the harmonious combination of soft, light blue and purple color tones set against the white background. Tsunetomi's style is quite unique and stands out favourably against such renowned masters of bijin-ga ('pictures of beautiful women') as GOYO and SHINSUI. As he had not designed many prints, Tsunetomi's prints are quite rare.

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