Shinsui ITO -- "Fireworks"

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Artist ITO, Shinsui (1898-1972)
Title "Fireworks" ("Hana-bi")
Date 1932, early Summer.
Provenance Private placement. Consigned by an eastcoast USA collector.
Series "The First Collection of Modern Beauties" (1929-31)
("Gendai Bijin-shu Dai-issuh")
Publisher Watanabe Shozaburo
Seal, Carver/Printer Watanabe "6-mm" seal (used on early Shinsui prints).
Image Size 10 x 16 ("dai-oban")
Impression Very Fine.
Skillfully executed "bokashi" shading to sky; "baren sujizuri" tracings to background; nicely detailed carving.
Condition Very Good to Nearly Excellent. Excellent colors. Clean front and verso. (Slight soiling top margin; few bumps left margin; tiny pin-hole bottom area; tiny thin top/center area.)
Reference/Illus "The Female Image," Plate #71; Blair's 1936 "Toledo Exhibition" pl. #157.
Comments Clothed in a light summer kimono, a beauty sits on a bamboo bench watching the summer fireworks (literally "fire flowers" in Japanese). Rare.
Item # DJ-12
Price $2100 (SOLD/byTJ)