153.9cm
60½"
60½"
72.2cm
28½"
28½"
Approximate Measurements
Artwork Panel: 54.1cm x 95.2cm ≈ 21¼" x 37½"
Silk/Brocade: 63.2cm x 153.9cm ≈ 24¾" x 60½"
Width at Wooden Knobs: 72.2cm ≈ 28½"
Close up view of the artwork mounted to this silk brocade wall scroll
Touhou no Bijin
This is a mechanically-printed reproduction of a very old Japanese woodblock print. This was made months ago, rather than centuries ago.
Original artist: Kitao Shigemasa (1739-1820)
Original woodblock was created in Japan, Edo period, around 1775
The names of these two women are known to be Onaka and Oshima.
Excerpt from Honolulu Museum of Art:
The “east” of the title probably refers to Fukagawa, an area with many unlicensed brothels that over time offered significant competition to the Yoshiwara. Little is known of Onaka and Oshima, but from their connection to Fukagawa, they probably were geisha entertainers. Female geisha became popular in Fukagawa at least a decade before the Yoshiwara, and were a special attraction of the area.
Both women have the tōrōbin hairstyle that was at the height of its popularity at the time, in which whalebone was used on either side to extend the hair in a shape resembling a lantern (tōrō means “lantern”). The design on the left woman’s obi resembles that found on textiles from Gujarat in India, widely imported in Southeast Asia, where they were highly valued and copied, and it might have come from either of those regions (Indonesia was a Dutch colony at the time, and the Dutch East India Company sent regular trade missions to Japan). The courtesans and geisha of Fukagawa were known for their distinctive sense of fashion, and an exotic imported fabric certainly would have added stylistic flare.
Woodblock printing, often considered the precursor to the modern printing press, was first developed in China and later brought to Japan, where artists refined the technique into a unique art form. In Japan, these prints are called 木版畫 ("Moku Hanga"). Most were created during the Edo period (1603–1867), though production continued into the early 20th century.
Japanese artists would first create a "template painting" depicting scenes of daily life, including women washing clothes, men writing poetry, samurai battles, and occasionally more dramatic subjects. These template images, known as 浮世絵 (Ukiyo-e, or "Floating World"), were then carved into wood by skilled artisans. Another specialist applied wet ink or pigments to the carved blocks, and a sheet of handmade paper was pressed on to create the final print. This collaborative process produced vibrant, detailed artworks much faster than hand-painting hundreds of copies.
Original Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period can sell for $800 to $20,000. Our prints are high-quality reproductions, crafted to capture the look and feel of the originals, though experts will recognize them as reproductions.
We use authentic handmade kozo (mulberry) paper—the same paper Japanese printmakers used centuries ago. Archival, UV-resistant pigment inks ensure long-lasting color, with laboratory testing showing up to 95 years of fade-free enjoyment if kept out of direct sunlight. Each reproduction is carefully color-corrected and restored, bringing the Edo period artwork to life for your wall.
Photographer Jeremy Cowart and the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2000 giclée printer used to create these reproductions.
Printing on delicate handmade paper is challenging. After testing multiple high-end printers, we found the Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-2000 delivers the precision and quality needed, using 12 archival inks and 18,432 nozzles. Each print is then sent to our Beijing workshop, where it is mounted into a handmade wall scroll, ready-to-hang without the need for expensive framing, giving your piece an authentic Japanese look.
Because the original artist has long passed, these works are public domain. In some cases, we license high-resolution scans of original prints, or even scan 200-year-old originals ourselves. This dedication ensures you receive a stunning Japanese woodblock print reproduction at an affordable price, making traditional Asian art accessible to everyone.
Want a custom wall scroll or unique print size? Just contact us!
We can print larger sizes, choose your preferred paper texture, and select silk brocade colors. Ready-to-frame prints can ship in days, while custom wall scrolls may take several weeks. Either way, the result is a truly one-of-a-kind piece of Japanese art.