Shunga, from Utamaro' series Komachi-biki (小町引き), woodblock copy ca. Taisho / early ShowaA superb copy of Utamaro'series Komachi biki (), I might say even more impresive than the original. Unfortunately no indication on the printer carver but the level is on par with old masters (Ito Susumu being one of the old guard, still active in the 1980ies I think). Beautifully state of the art done carving, especially the hair. I'd say Taisho early Showa. Added 50x magnification under microscope (more is useless) maybe some of you are interested on

occasional yellowish due to age and very few spots of foxing

liver and some internal organs are carefully removed in order not to contaminate the flesh

The prints have been reproduced using traditional methods

The woodblock prints were issued in both book form

and A Manual of Imitating Various Artists' Paintings)

The thatched-roof huts nestled in the dense

offering insight into traditional Japanese design practice and natural-history representation

although most probably unknown right now in Western art collectors world

a painter of the late-Ming dynasty

o Rarity: Sets in such condition are highly sought after by collectors of Japanese woodblock prints and botanical art

work resulting in a realism absent in traditional bijin painting

carefully printed bokashiThe printer was Tadao Fuji 藤忠雄