Nakamura Art Appraisal

Teii Nakamura 'New Attire' Japanese Woodblock Print

This item is a Japanese woodblock print, presenting a portrait of a female figure identified by the context as 'New Attire' by Teii Nakamura. The print features a pale-skinned woman depicted in profile, looking slightly downwards and to the left. She wears a dark, possibly black, kimono with a wide off-white collar, and a yellow-gold obi with intricate floral or geometric patterns in white and blue shades. Her hair is styled in a traditional bun, largely rendered in dark blue or black, with a prominent, vibrant light blue or turquoise hair ornament resembling a bird, possibly a crane, perched on top. The background is a soft, light blue-grey wash, giving a serene and somewhat ethereal quality to the composition. To the right of the figure, towards the center, there appears to be a red seal or signature mark, typical of Japanese prints. The print itself is unframed, mounted on what appears to be a light-colored, possibly white or cream-colored, backing board. There are visible circular marks or holes along the bottom edge of this backing, suggesting it might have been previously displayed or bound. The overall condition shows some visible wear; there are creases or indentations near the bottom right corner of the print, and the backing board itself exhibits minor scuffs and marks. The colors, while muted in some areas, retain their vibrancy, particularly the blue of the hair ornament and the gold of the obi. This style and subject matter suggest it is likely a 20th-century print, possibly from the Shin-hanga or early Sōsaku-hanga movement, which focused on realism and traditional beauty. The craftsmanship appears to be of good quality, typical of traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques.