Edutainment > Maiko Prints by Sadanobu III Hasegawa (1881-1963)

Maiko in Front of Kiyomizu Temple

Japanese printmakers have always been attracted to show beautiful young girls. Maiko are geisha apprenctices, young and beautiful. Sadanobu III Hasegawa (1881-1963) made woodblock prints after world war II showing maiko beauties. They were published by Uchida in Kyoto in the 1950s.

First Publication: August 2009
Latest Update: April 2013

Maiko

Maiko are Geisha apprentices. They can still be seen in Kyoto's colorful old Gion district with their white face masks, clad in lush kimonos and walking with old-fashioned high Japanese plateau shoes.

Sadanobu III Hasegawa 1881-1963

Sadanobu III Hasegawa was the son of Sadanobu II Hasegawa (1848-1886). His speciality were woodblock prints of Japanese stereotypes like samurai, bijin (beautiful women), kabuki actors and bunraku puppets.

Series of Maiko Woodblock Prints

Autumn Maple Leaves of Kiyomizu Temple

Uchida published several series of woodblock prints by Sadanobu III Hasegawa after world war II. The subjects are either taken from Japan's past like images of samurai on horse or they are very romantic like the maiko prints. Critics say that these prints were made for the market of the American soldiers stationed in Japan and for foreign tourists. They show a stereotype Japan that has little to do with the reality of the country in the twentieth century.

These critics certainly have a point. But who cares? Who decides that it is "less art" than for instance any child-like scribbling that you can buy for hundreds or thousands of dollars just because some art business people rank them as "high art"?

The Maiko prints shown on this page were published by Uchida in the 1950s. Early editions came with a simple presentation folder and carried the Uchida stamp on the folder. They are original Japanese woodblock prints and were made completely by hand by skillful carvers and printers in the same way as woodblock prints were made in the 19th century.

More about Maiko

1 object(s) by Sadanobu III Hasegawa 1881-1963 in current auction Modern and Retro Beauties - 1100

166 sold object(s) by Sadanobu III Hasegawa 1881-1963 in our Art Archive

Other Pages Related to Maiko

• Yoshikawa Kanpo - 1894-1979

Video - Geisha under Pressure

An interesting documentary about today's situation of the geisha profession. It is a world that is dying out. Credit and thanks to Journeymanpictures for sharing this with us.

Author: Dieter Wanczura
.. more about Dieter Wanczura

Gallery of Maiko Prints

Maiko in Winter

Maiko in Autumn

Maiko in Summer

Maiko in Spring

Maiko Playing Hand Drum

Washing Hands - Kyoto Maiko

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