Featured Cool japanese print

still behind glass, but close ups of that area

and if i didn't have to open the bloody thing..........well that would be splendid

 

looking at some of the originals there are similarities in the look of the paper etc......i found a good example of that but it was a bit.........

"Though not as widely recognized as other members of the Utagawa school, Utagawa Kunimaro’s works are valued by collectors and scholars for their technical skill and historical significance. His contributions to kabuki actor portraits and bijin-ga help preserve the visual culture of a bygone era, offering a window into the world of Edo-period entertainment, fashion, and social life."

 

seems his (original)prints sell from the low hundreds to low thousands (at most) so not a big name i would think

 

Yes, Kabuki actors. Men also played female roles.

That is what I thought, and maybe a title of the play, but I don't read Japanese.

 

The originals were printed on mulberry paper. I believe some of the good replicas are too. Mulberry paper is thin and translucent and it faintly shows the grid of the bamboo mats on which it was dried.

 

awesome info thanks Aj, interesting. we might even be able to see that when its opened up

 

can someone cut that black paper on back cause i really don't wanna for some reason

noticed the other one has a more embossed floral pattern on her collar

also guessing that the japanease writing over each figure is character/actor names

 

.....if ya can believe it...found 2 more (similar ish) (smaller) in another shop on the same street ?

so perhaps more common than thought or perhaps from the same collection...........dunno

 

something way strange going on...on her forehead.....like a little elvis head coming out of both

 

That is the obligatory make up of the ladies at the court. They are also allowed to wear their hair loose or in a ponytail, unlike the commoners.

 

interesting thanks Aj, i think i can see its one of those slick back bun type fringes.

will add some better pics in a bit

 

Painted eyebrows:

 

LauraGarnet just posted this link in Mikey's Japanese box thread:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hikimayu

So those 'eyebrows' are called Hikimayu.

 

yeah i'm not down with them brows at all

and not surprised it never caught on............just walking around looking very surprised

 

.......i take it back...it does kinda work on the heian lady

 

...........i take it back again......the heian lady.....has......self blackened teeth ?

 

They were a Thing too, just don't ask me the name. It never caught on, thankfully.