Nakayama Shuko, b. 1876

Comparison of New Ukiyo-e Beauties: July, After a Bath
(Shin ukiyo-e bijin awase: Shichi-gatsu, Yokugo)

signed Shuko, with artist's rectangular seal, Shuko (?); the series title in the first cartouche on the upper right margin, Shin ukiyo-e bijin awase, the print title in the next cartouche, Shichi-gatsu, Yokugo, followed by the artist's name, Nakayama Shuko ga hitsu; published by the Publication Society of Shin Ukiiyo-e Bijin Awase, ca. 1924, ca. 1924

dai oban tate-e 16 7/8 by 11 1/8 in., 42.8 by 28.3 cm

There is a complete set of twelve designs from this collaborative series in the collection of the National Diet Library, Tokyo, which is dated to 1918. However, in that set there is a different design for the month of July by another female artist, Shima Seien (1892-1970). In addition to July, there are four other duplicate months identified thus far for this series (April, May, July, August and November). This could suggest that this design, along with the other duplicate compositions, may be from a later grouping, possibly dating to 1924, the date which is usually assigned to this series. A slip of paper attached to an impression of another print from the series, (May, Early Summer Rain, also by Shuko), a design also found in the 1918 group, credits the Publication Society of Shin Ukiyo-e Bijin Awase, which may have been run by a Mr. Murakami.

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