Hishikawa Moronobu (c. 1618–1694) Japanese, Two Figural Woodblock Prints "Beauty Looking Back"

Lot description

After Hishikawa Moronobu (c. 1618–1694) Japanese, Two Figural Woodblock Prints "Beauty Looking Back". Left depicting a woman in profile wearing a vibrant red kimono adorned with floral patterns and a dark green patterned obi; right depicting a woman standing in a stylized pose, dressed in a blue and gold-patterned kimono with red lining and intricate cloud-like motifs. Overall Size: 24 1/2 x 31 in. Sight Size: 19 x 25 in. Hishikawa Moronobu (c. 1618–1694) was a pioneering Japanese artist of the early Edo period and is widely regarded as the first great master of ukiyo-e woodblock art. Working in both painting and print, he helped solidify the visual language of the “floating world,” depicting courtesans, kabuki actors, and scenes of urban leisure with confident linework and clear, balanced compositions. Moronobu’s monochrome prints, often hand-colored, emphasized expressive contours over decorative excess, setting a stylistic foundation that later ukiyo-e artists would elaborate with color and complexity. His work reflects the rise of a merchant class hungry for accessible art and imagery, making Moronobu instrumental in transforming woodblock prints from ephemeral illustrations into a major artistic tradition.