77 Shōda Kōhō 1875 – 1946 Maiko in Rain under a Willow

Japan, 1910s–1930s (shin-hanga movement)

This captivating and melancholic sheet is another masterpiece by Shoda Koho, a student of the master Ogata Gekko and a prominent figure in the shin-hanga movement. The artist once again brilliantly utilizes the extremely narrow ko-tanzaku (pillar print) format. These specific proportions were originally a by-product of traditional Japanese architecture, which often offered only narrow structural posts (hashira-e) as solid surfaces for hanging pictures. The composition transports us to a rainy evening, capturing a young maiko (an apprentice geisha in Kyoto and Western Japan, who entertains guests with dance and traditional instruments) walking along the river under an umbrella. The right side of the scene is dominated by a large weeping willow tree and a softly glowing street lamp. The present woodblock print bears the Hasegawa catalog number 1611 and originates from the series "Japanese Scenes on Tanzaku". The print is in excellent condition, with good colors, no visible fading or foxing, and trimmed margins as is typical for this series.