Feminine and independent

Prints of beauties (bijin-ga) have a long tradition in Japanese printmaking. The works of Utamaro (1753-1806), for example, are among the best known images in the realms of Japanese printmaking. Just like the landscape print, the genre of beauties saw an enormous revival in the early 20th century. Artist such as Ito Shinsui, Hashiguchi Goyo, Kobayakawa Kiyoshi and Torii Kotondo and their 'Shin hanga' colleagues produced over 200 'bijin' in the pre-war period. Their works are generally characterized by their extremely high technical standards, but their artistic qualities are also on the same level with those of their illustrious predecessor Utamaro. These 'Shin hanga' artists generally chose to portray their beauties in a traditional style, emphasizing a tranquil beauty and showing the subjects involved in the activities traditionally associated with women, such as applying make-up, stepping out of the bath, or adjusting, their hair in a mirror.