Description
Rare sumizuri-e (墨摺絵) monochrome illustration made in 1801 by the famous artist Kitagawa Utamaro (喜多川歌麿) and depicting a willow tree. In the Far Eastern tradition, the willow has many different symbolic meanings. It is also considered a symbol of sexual desire as well as a personification of female beauty and of the joys and sorrows of love. In Japan, in particular, it is often associated with the virtues of the geisha (芸者) who, like the tree, should be graceful, flexible and strong.
The work is taken from vol. 2 (中) of the shunpon (春本) “Picture Book, The Jeweled Comb-Box” (艶本多満久志戯).
The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the obvious signs of aging, is in overall fair condition.
