Ito Shinsui 伊東深水: Bathing in Early Summer (Sold)

Artist: Itō Shinsui 伊東深水 Title: Bathing in Early Summer Series: Twelve Forms of New Beauties 新美人十二姿 Date: 1922, Spring A nude beauty crouches in the bath, hand on neck, steam completely enveloping her. The outlines of her body are defined with a subtle blindprinting (karazuri); no pigment is used at all. She glows a warm pink from the steam of the bath, and her hair is printed in a blueish purple, as seen through the steam. The marks of the baren cross her body in front, also indicating steam, a technique known as beni-sujizuri. Watanabe’s publishing studio in the 20s and 30s mark the absolute apogee of 20th century Japanese woodblock printing achievement. With the limited edition seal verso, from an edition of 200, numbered 195/200. This work must be in mint condition, as here, to present with accuracy the intention of the artist. Most extant examples are faded and discolored. Scarce, pre-earthquake design. As Lawrence Smith wrote in 1994: “This series (1922-3) was the most important