Original kuchi-e (frontispiece) woodblock print - Washi paper - Beauty - "Bijin no kaisuiyoku" 美人の海水浴 (Sea-Bathing Beauty) - From vol 9 n 10 of Bungei Kurabu 文芸倶楽部 - Japan - 1903

Original kuchi-e (frontispiece) woodblock print - Terasaki Kogyo 寺崎広業 (1866-1919) - "Bijin no kaisuiyoku" 美人の海水浴 (Sea-Bathing Beauty) - From vol 9 n 10 of Bungei Kurabu 文芸倶楽部 (Literary Club) - Japan - 1903 The pretty girl on the beach, standing and posing in a striped swimsuit and a straw hat, is undoubtedly the most representative icon of the kuchi-e 口絵 movement, as well as the most sought-after woodblock print among collectors of this specific genre. The work, made in 1903 by the artist Terasaki Kogyo 寺崎広業, is an interesting testimony of how in the early twentieth century Japanese prints began to diverge from some traditional subjects such as for example, in the case of women at the sea, the divers for abalone and pearls, to depict new themes in step with the times, such as recreational sea bathing. The precious woodblock print, entitled "Bijin no kaisuiyoku" 美人の海水浴, that is "Sea-Bathing Beauty", is taken from vol. 9 n. 10, extra issue of July, of Bungei Kurabu 文芸倶楽部, the famous literary magazine published from 1895 to 1933 by the Hakubunkan 博文館 publishing house. See Harvard Art Museums: https: //www. harvardartmuseums. org/art/316900 The print on Japanese washi paper 和紙, despite the right signs of aging (in particular slight stains and the folding signs typical of kuchi-e frontispieces) , is in overall good condition (please, look at the detailed pictures) . The woodblock print will be well-packaged and shipped by registered mail with a tracking code.