The Polite Geisha Art Print

These stunning woodblock prints, known as Ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), captured the essence of a fleeting yet vibrant lifestyle. The phrase "Ukiyo" translates to "floating world" and referred to a hedonistic philosophy of living for the moment, beautifully described as: "Living only for the moment, savoring the moon, the snow, the cherry blossoms, and the maple leaves, singing songs, drinking sake, and diverting oneself just in floating, unconcerned by the prospect of imminent poverty, buoyant and carefree, like a gourd carried along with the river current: this is what we call ukiyo." In the mid-eighteenth century, Edo (present-day Tokyo), the capital of Japan's ruling shogunate, flourished as a bustling metropolis. This economic boom empowered the chōnin class (merchants, artisans, and workers), who began to patronize a thriving world of arts and entertainment. The term "Ukiyo" came to specifically describe this new, pleasure-seeking lifestyle. The vibrant culture of Edo was populated by a cast of fascinating characters, from pleasure seekers to teahouse beauties, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, and even star-crossed lovers. These celebrities of the "floating world" were immortalized in the captivating colors and detailed scenes of Ukiyo-e woodblock prints.

These prints are printed on a fine quality ivory paper.
These are reproductions of old illustrations & in most cases will have the same imperfections as the original.