Lot 1192: 2 Japanese Bijin-ga Woodblock Prints After Harunobu & Toyonobu or Kiyomitsu

Two (2) Japanese woodblock prints with bijinga (beautiful women) subjects after c. 1765 prints, both early 20th c. 1st item: After Suzuki Harunobu (Japan, c. 1725-1770) woodblock print with two women who stand before a body of water as they shelter from rain beneath an umbrella, with a willow tree visible at upper left. 2nd item: After a print attributed to Ishikawa Toyonobu (Japan, 1711-1785) or Torii Kiyomitsu (Japan, 1735-1785) woodblock print, “Komachi Praying for Rain.” Light rain falls as a man holds an umbrella over the head of a woman who holds a miniature boat. Both with old labels affixed to backings. Both are housed under glass in distressed giltwood frames with natural wood mats. Both sights: 10 1/2 in. H x 8 in. W. Both frames: 16 in. H x 13 1/2 in. H. Note: The Metropolitan Museum of Art attributes the original “Komachi Praying for Rain” print to Kiyomitsu, while the Chicago Art Institute attributes their impression to Toyonobu. According to the Metropolitan Museum, “This print is a parody of the Kabuki play Komachi Praying for Rain, which is based on the legend of Ono no Komachi, the beautiful poetess of the ninth century. She put a card on which she had written a poem into a miniature boat and released it into a pond to pray for rain at the imperial garden. Thanks to the power of her poetry, the rain started and continued for three days.” (Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art). 

CONDITION:

Both items in overall very good condition, with possible fading to some colors. Not examined out of frames.