SHIMURA -- Playing Battledore and Shuttlecock (#2)

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Artist SHIMURA Tatsumi (1907-80)
Title "Playing Battledore and Shuttlecock" ("Oibane")
Date 1953 (Limited edition of 200 prints)
Series "Five Figures of Modern Beauties" ("Gendai Bijin Fuzoku Gotai")
Publisher Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho (Kato Junji) (Tokyo, 1930-53)
Seal, Carver/Printer Nakagawa/Onodera (active c1940-c55, Tokyo)
Image Size 10 x 14 7/8 (plus wide margins)
Impression Very Fine. Skillfully over-printed hairlines; superb "bokashi" (gradation of colors) shading to face; light "gauffrage" to flowers worn in hair; gold metallic pigments atop red-petaled flowers of kimono; highly detailed carving. Large, deeply embossed "kanji title" in center bottom margin.
Condition Excellent. (No flaws noted--Still in original "presentation folder.")
Reference/Illus "The Female Image," Plate #259.
Comments A delightful, technical masterpiece--one of a lifetime total of 5 "bijin-ga" images (all 1953). Published only once, as a small limited edition (200 copies) in the early-1950's by Nihon Hanga Kenkyusho Publisher (Kato Junji) of Tokyo. Rarely seen. Roach: "His prints are technical marvels." (Learn more.)
Item # BG-301
Price $1850 (Sold)