“Bath house house scene with geisha”

Early 19th Century Japanese Preparatory drawing or Shita-e/Gako

Anonymous  Utagawa school -  possibly Hokuba 1771-1844

Oban tate-e 37 x 26cm

Drawn in Chinese Ink – not signed

Marks and losses to the corners, creases and old fold. Generally good condition.

This preparatory drawing shows a bath house scene. At the centre of the composition, a geisha holds court with a shamisen on her knee and a table full of food. Behind her a man is shown bathing while another man is seen undressed with bare legs and a pile of clothes in front of him, presumably after coming out of the bath. At the bottom of the page a potential suitor looks on admirably at the Bijin (lady) with her shamisen, while another man at the table full of dishes seems more interested in the food.

A second drawing, perpendicular to the main image at the top of the composition, shows a man in traditional Japanese hair style holding a fan.