Sublime: "Timeless Beauty"

One of the small galleries at the Indianapolis Museum of Art is hosting 

an exhibition of Japanese color woodblock prints. They are of a genre

called bijinga, depictions of female beauties from the last three

decades of the 18th century into the 20th century.

Called "Long Undergarment," the above print was made in 1929

by Torii Kotondo (1900-1976), the fourth year of the Showa period,

and is the latest work in the exhibition. 

"Snow and a Quiet House," made in 1898 by Ogata Gekko, 

is one of 36 prints from Customs and Manners of Ladies.

The prints depicted women engaged in artistic pursuits.

I particularly enjoyed this print because of the delicately drawn

background depicting the snow falling on a house in the distance.

The late 18th century saw an increase in popularity of abana-e prints, 

called "dangerous" or "risque", because they featured glimpses 

of nude or semi-nude women caught in everyday activities. In 1772, the 
government banned erotic prints, which led to the popularity of scenes 

such as this one, produced circa 1765-1767 by Torii Kiyomitsu.

 Titled, "Girl Walking in the Wind,"  the scene depicts 

a young woman attempting to shield her face from the wind, 

even as her kimono is blown around her, revealing her leg.