Japanese Large Woodblock Print Firework by Ito Shinsui Limited Edition

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A limited-editioned Japanese Woodblock print by Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) entitled Firework (花火 in Japanese) Catalogue number IS65. The print was … Read more A limited-editioned Japanese Woodblock print by Itō Shinsui (1898-1972) entitled Firework (花火 in Japanese) Catalogue number IS65. The print was created in Showa 7th year (1932) as part of the Second Collection of Modern Beauties (現代美人集第二輯). It is in a large format of Dai Oban and published as a limited edition of 250. The print on offer is 180th/250 as stamped verso.
The print depicts a beauty dressed in summer kimono, holding a fan and seated on a bamboo beach. She turned her gaze to an exploding firework in the sky. The composition that leaves a large empty space around her as well as only showing her side profile broke away from the traditional Bijin-ga (Beauty Print). The work is dated Showa 7th year early summer and signed Shinsui with artist's red ink seal in plate on the left side. There is a type C1 seal of the publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō (used between 1931-1933) on lower left margin and a 6cm round seal on the lower right corner. Red edition stamp on the back as shown.
Reference: Compared to the print in the same edition in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, accession number 2002.161.74 and the British Museum 1983,0707,0.1. See less