Katsuyuki Nishijima - 島原大門 (Shimabara Daimon)

Title: 島原大門 (Shimabara Daimon). Ed.xx/500.

Artist: Katsuyuki Nishijima (1945-Present).

Signed & Dated: Signed and titled in Pencil. Seal to lower right of image. C.2017.

Medium: Woodblock Print.

Paper Size: W: 43.50cm x H: 31.50cm. (Image Size: Approx W: 37.75cm x H: 25.75cm).

Condition: Mint. Please refer to photos / Contact for any further questions & condition report.

Notes: An iconic image depicted by many celebrated Japanese artists: The main entrance gate (Ōmon (大門)) to Shimabara, Shimabara Daimon島原大門.

Shimabara was one of Japan’s three pleasure quarters (Yūkaku 遊廓) alongside Shinmachi (Osaka) & Yoshiwara (Edo) during the Edo period (1603-1867), before being titled as Japan’s first Geisha district (“Hanamachi”) in the 18th Century. Now a residential area following the outlaw of prostitution in 1958 and the subsequent decline of its Geisha activity through the 1970’s; the remaining wooden Ōmon still stands reminding us of the area’s deep cultural history .

Related Work: Gate to Shimabara by Seiichiro Konishi.