Kunichika - Mirror of Flowering Manners and Customs

Toyohara Kunichika

"After the Bath", from the series: "Mirror of Flowering Manners and Customs (Kaika Ninjo Kagami)" Alongside the series 36 Good and Evil Beauties this series represents Kunichika’s finest work. They chronicle the clash of styles and influence of western sensibility and traditional Japanese manners. Commentaries on modern manners are included in the large square cartouche and there often appear modern imports such as parasols and english text books as accessories. The series title Kaika Ninjo Kagami also hints at modernity, the word kaika, can also mean civilization or enlightment; and according to Newland, even meaning Mirror of the Enlightened Mind.

Publisher Tetsujiro Kobayashi

Condition: Good color, clear coating applied to surface, backed, some small holes as shown, embossing, margins as shown.

Date: 1878