MAIKO AND DAIMONJI (Kinoshita Akira)

N.1 sosaku-hanga woodblock print
Year: 2012
Condition: fair
Size: 10 x 15 cm

SOLD

Description

Refined polychrome woodblock print made by the artist Kinoshita Akira (木下章), entitled “Daimonji Okuribi” (大文字送り火) and depicting two maiko (舞妓) observing one of the five bonfires that on August 16th of each year, starting at eight in the evening, are lit on the mountain tops of Kyoto.

During the Obon (お盆) holiday, it’s believed that deceased ancestors return from the afterlife to visit the living. The Daimonji Gozan Okuribi (大文字五山送り火) marks the end of their stay and guides the dead back to heaven with its burning fires.

The print on Japanese washi paper (和紙), despite the presence of slight wrinkles and small fold marks in the corners, is in fair condition.