Yellow of Boxwood Comb c. 1820

"Yellow of Boxwood Comb" is a woodblock print from c. 1820 by Japanese artist Ryūryūkyo Shinsai (1764-1820). The image depicts a scene of two women, one kneeling and having her hair styled by the other. The composition is typical of the ukiyo-e genre, which focused on everyday life and popular culture in Edo-period Japan. Shinsai was a prolific artist known for his elegant and colorful woodblock prints, which often depicted scenes of beauty, fashion, and entertainment. This print, now in the collection of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, is a fine example of his work.