A Great EXTRA LARGE Japanese Woodblock Print Kitani Chigusa Bijin Mai Dancing Heroine Oochigo WATERMARK (2)

This is AN EXTRA LARGE very beautiful and rare Japanese woodblock print “Mai (Dancing), Heroine Oochigo” signed by the Showa woodblock print master Kitani Chigusa木谷千種 (1895-1945) BEARING THE ORIGINAL ISHUKANKOKAI PUBLISHER WATERMARK IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.  This woodblock print has been preserved carefully in my family during the past decades, which is one of the core collections of a large number of Asian art and Japanese woodblock print collections in my family.  We are gradually selling them.  Kitani Chigusa was born in 1895 (Meiji 28) as a daughter of Mr. Yoshioka Masahiro who runs a grocery dealer in Dojima, Kita Ward Osaka prefecture. Young Yoshioka’s real name is Eiko. After losing her mother at a young age, she traveled to the United States at the age of 12 and studied Western painting in Seattle for 2 year. After returning home, the house was burned down, she went to Tokyo and studied under Ikeda Shogoen, Tsunefutoh Kitano, and Chikamatsu Monzenmen.  In Taisho 9, she married to a family Wentei Kitani.  She died at the age of 51 in Showa 22 (1947).  Kitani Chigusa was specializing in “Female Image”.  She was the first prize winner of the imperial arts exhibition at the age of 20. Her Geisha woodblock prints are as famous as Goyo and Torii Kotondo, but hard to find today.  Her woodblock prints are highly searched for by collectors and valued at thousands of dollars in galleries today.  This exact same woodblock print image can be found on Internet. The size of this beautiful woodblock print is 19 x 13 inches, WHICH IS MUCH LARGER THAN THE TRADITIONAL SHIN-HANGA WOODBLOCK PRINT.  The artist’s signature and her chop mark are close to the middle left edge of the print.  The publisher Ishukankokai chop mark and the carver and printer chop seals are in the lower left border WHILE THE ORIGINAL ISHUKANKOKAI KANJI PUBLISHER WATERMARK AFTER TRANSLATION IS “MOUNTAIN RESORT” IS RIGHT BELOW THEM AS SHOWN IN THE PICTURES.  Please note that it is not a stain or defect.  Please refer to the picture for a more clear understanding.  Usually publishers only put this kind of watermark on very expensive Japanese woodblock prints in Japan.  The colors, which are vivid and vibrant, are in layers.  All four borders are intact.  This woodblock print is not attached to any backing paper or cardboard and strong ink bleeding can be seen through the back of original Japanese mulberry Washi paper.  This woodblock print is IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. Please examine the photos.  Any credit card, visa, master card, bank and post office money order, cashier check and personal check are accepted.  Personal checks will take about ten days to clear.  Texas residents need to pay 8.25% tax.  Shipping is $16 dollars anywhere in US via USPS priority mail with insurance and tracking.  International shipping charges are US$25 through airmail WITHOUT insurance, buyers will have to assume all the risks during the mailing.  We do combined shipping.  If more than one item is purchased at the same time, the highest shipping cost will be charged.