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Summer Geisha- Natsuko

Summer Geisha- Natsuko 夏妓
by Torii Kotondo (1900-1976)

The artworks displayed on JAODB are not for sale.

Artist: Torii Kotondo (1900-1976) 鳥居言人
Title: Summer Geisha- Natsuko 夏妓
Series: 
Date of first edition?1934
Date of this artwork?1980s (may not be accurate)
Publisher (first edition)?Ikeda 池田
Publisher (this edition)?Unknown 不明
Medium (first edition): Woodblock
Medium (this edition): Woodblock
Format (first edition): Large Oban
Format (this edition): Large Oban
DB artwork code: 31565
Notes (first edition)?
Torii Kotondo (1900-1976)

Title Natsuko - Geisha in summer style
Publisher Ikeda
Dimensions 17.5 x 11.5

Dated 1934 (confirmed. Month not yet confirmed).

Limited edition of only 100 prints, after which the blocks were destroyed.
Scene number 12 among 12 Ikeda published scenes. There are a lot of prints of this scene that are unnumbered, i.e., they do not have a hand-written limited edition number written in the verso cartouche. In fact, I have not seen even a single example that has the edition number.

Re-issued in the series "Twelve Aspects of Women" circa August 23, 1988.
Notes (this edition)?
The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies:

Shin Hanga: Bijin Bust: Summer Geisha

Artist: Kotondo
Format: Dai-oban tate-e: 17.25" x 11.25"

Subject: Against the vivid blue of a Summer sky, a geisha fans herself to keep cool.

Date: Originally 1934, this edition later.

Condition: Fine colors. Full size. Minor creases, marks and flaws. Generally fine state of preservation.

Impression: Fine impression with gauffrage and mica.

Other Notes: From an edition without title at base.

Artist Bio: 
Torii Kotondo (or Torii Kiyotada VIII) is renowned for his paintings and shin hanga prints of beautiful women. His woodblock prints, superbly carved and printed, are comparable with those of Hashiguchi Goyo and Ito Shinsui. Kotondo was born with the name Saito Akira in the Nihonbashi district of Tokyo. He was the only son among the five children of Torii Kiyotada, the seventh Torii master. The Torii school had a long tradition of painting and printmaking for the Japanese theater, extending back to the seventeenth century. Kabuki theater was still very popular in the early twentieth century and prints and painted posters were the primary means of publicity. Although Kotondo was mainly interested in studying history and archaeology, it was assumed that he would follow in his father's footsteps and join the Torii school. At age 14, Kotondo agreed to leave school and begin studies with Kobori Tomone, a yamato-e painter. Along with painting classes, Tomone taught Kotondo about the court and military practices of ancient Japan, satisfying his interest in history. A year later, he was officially adopted as the next heir of the Torii school and assumed the artist's name 'Kotondo'. While still studying with Tomone, he began designing illustrations for a theatrical magazine, Engei Gaho ('Entertainment Illustrated Magazine'), and painted kabuki posters and billboards.

Torii Kotondo was the 8th Torii and the 5th Torii Kiyotada. His father was the 4th Kiyotada.

The artworks displayed on JAODB are not for sale.

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Site copyright: Dr Ross F. Walker. Copyright of the displayed artwork: the original owner. The information contained on this website is provided as an educational resource to scholars and collectors of Japanese art. JAODB would like to thank the caretakers of these art items for their contribution to this database. The items displayed here are not being offered for sale. Unless otherwise indicated the displayed item is not in the ownership of JAODB or Ross Walker.