Item from the Mokuhankan Flea Market

Man Handing a Love Letter

Size: 35.5cm by 24.0cm (13.98 in by 9.45 in) | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [L] ?

Designer: Mizuno Toshikata

Era: Meiji | Currency: $ / £ / €

Price: ¥ 16,000$ 110.00£ 85.50€ 100.00

  

Description: This print is from the series Thirty-six Selected Beauties (Sanjuroku Karen) that illustrates daily activities of women from various time periods. 

The design shows a masked man delivering an envelope to a surprised woman. The envelope could be delivering a New Year's charm, perhaps in the form of a love letter, given the fact that pine branches, symbolic of Kadomatsu (gate made of pine), are hung outside the house entrance. Kadomatsu traditionally ward off evil spirits and invite the god of harvest, making them iconic symbols of the Japanese New Year, representing rebirth, renewal, and a hopeful future. Both figures' brightly colored clothing stands out against the more subdued background. The artist also employs subtle and soft bokashi (gradation) on the clothes, adding a touch of elegance and refinement to the entire design.

This print is backed and has stains and foxing.

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