It is a copy or restrike as is known in the business. A VERY FINE QUALITY OLD I ESTIMATE IT DATES FROM THE LATE MEIJI PERIOD in the EARLY 20TH C. TO POSSIBLY AS LATE AS MID 20TH C GILTWOOD FRAMED WOODBLOCK PRINT (IT IS AN ACTUAL HANDCRAFTED WOODBLOCK–NOT MACHINE MADE) TITLED “High-Ranking Courtesan” from the series Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter (Hokkoku goshiki-zumi). I BELIEVE THIS IS A LATER EDITION OF THAT WORK CREATED ABOUT A CENTURY LATER (I HAVE OWNED ORIGINAL PERIOD UTAMARO WOODBLOCKS AND THEY DID NOT HOLD UP WELL INTO OUR MODERN TIMES). THE OVERALL MEASUREMENTS OF THIS FRAMED WORK ARE ABOUT 16X11 INCHES. THE FRAME IS 1 IN WIDTH. CONDITION OF THE PRINT IS EXCELLENT BUT THE FRAME SHOWS WEAR OF THE AGES. THIS IS A LOVELY DECORATIVE WORK OF ART. THANKS TO THE MET FOR THIS DESCRIPTION: A high-ranking courtesan (oiran) from the Yoshiwara brothel district is captured by the artist in a private moment. Having just washed her hair, she wets the tip of the brush with her lips as she contemplates writing a letter. The black of her uncoiffed hair and the red accents on her lips, the brush, and the rim of her sleeve contrast with the solid neutral background. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “lukelegal” and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped to United States.

• Region of Origin: Japan