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Mizuno Toshikata (1866-1908) was born as Mizuno Kumejiro in Kanda, Tokyo. When he was 13 years old, his father sent him to the nishiki-e printmaking school of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi. He was also apprenticed to a ceramic painter. And later he was instructed in traditional Japanese painting by Shibata Hoshu and Watanabe Seitei.
He did a little bit of everything - war prints, illustrations and nevertheless he managed to continue a career as a serious painter and printmaker. In 1887 he was lucky and could get the job formerly held by Yoshitoshi as an illustrator at Yamato shinbun - a Tokyo newspaper. This gave him a stable income.
Mizuno published several series of bijin prints and genre scenes with women and children. Among his publishers were Sato Shotaro and Akiyama Buemon. His representative artworks are "Thirty-six Selected Beauties" and "Fountain Water (Iwa Shimizu zu)".
After 1900 Mizuno Toshikata was a well-recognized illustrator, painter and printmaker. He became teacher of Kaburagi Kiyokata, Arai Kanpo and Ikeda Terukata.
This series is based on the famous anthology of waka poems "Thirty six Master Poets" compiled by Fujiwara-no-Kintou. Master poets has been popular theme for artists. Toshikata depicted 36 beauties from different periods of time from ancient time to the Edo era and the viweres can see the customs and manners of different periods.
This artwork depicts a beauty from the Kanbun era (late 17th C) and other people enjoying yukimi or snow viewing on the boat. Snow viewing was as poular event as cherry blossom viewing in the Edo era. Sumida river, Shinobazu pond, Nippori and Akasaka were famous snow viewing spots.
The hood worn by a woman is called Okouso-zukin. Many women used this hood in order to protrect their heads from cold or to hide their faces. This kind of hood was very popular from the Edo era to the Taisho era.
Artist's signature and a seal applied on the right below
The title "Sanjyu-rokkasen Yuki-mi Kanbun-koro-bijin" is written in the cartouche in the upper right. Karazuri embossing is applied here.
Good impression and colors
A vertical fold line on the left-end
Slight stains
Repair mark on the back
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