| Artist | HIRANO, Hakuho (1879-1957) |
| Title | "Before the Mirror" ("Kagami no Mae") |
| Date | 1932 (Likely 1930's/40's printing.) |
| Series | na |
| Publisher | Watanabe Shozaburo |
| Seal, Carver/Printer | No seal present. (Robert Muller's copy of same print--illustrated in "The New Wave" book--is similarly un-sealed.) |
| Image Size | 10 x 14 1/4 (plus margins) |
| Impression | Very Fine. Skillfully executed "bokashi" shading to hand, face, and background; extensive "gauffrage" (embossing) to entire red kimono pattern, green collar, hand towel, and hair-piece; gold metallic pigment highlights to hairpin; circular "baren sujizuri" (tracings) to entire background. |
| Condition | Nearly Excellent. Excellent colors. Clean front and verso. (Slight wear; 2 tiny paper residues verso edge; very light toning. No prior mounts.) |
| Reference/Illus | "The Female Image," Plate #209. "New Wave," Plate #127. |
| Comments | Without question, this is Hirano's finest "bijin-ga" image (lifetime total of only 6 known images, all 1932-36). Amoung the finest "bijin-ga" prints of the shin-hanga period. Rarely seen. |
| Item # | DG-800 |
| Price | $2250 |