Two Beauties by the Iris Pond - Torii Kiyonaga - Japan

This piece is a woodblock print reproduction of Torii Kiyonaga’s *Two Beauties with Irises* (*Kakitsubata ni Bijin*), an *ōban*-sized single-sheet print created using the traditional hand-printed multi-block technique by the Adachi Institute of Woodcut Prints.
The scene depicts two Edo-period women by a summer pond. Clusters of irises—with their vibrant purple blossoms and lush green foliage—spread along the water's edge. On the right, a beauty crouches down, leaning forward to gently reach toward the irises; she gazes intently at the flowers with a lowered head. She wears a black-ground kimono featuring soft pink patterns on the under-layer and sash, and her hair is styled in an elegant updo with refined, understated makeup. To the left, another woman stands gracefully; she wears a sun-shading hat and holds a folding fan. Clad in a long, brown-ground kimono adorned with a delicate, intricate pattern and a pink sash, she holds a patterned bundle over her arm as she quietly accompanies her companion.
The background features a pale expanse of water dotted with stones, while a curved bamboo fence leans nearby, draped with vines bearing tiny pink blossoms, creating a serene and gentle atmosphere. The figures are rendered with the elongated, graceful proportions and clean, fluid lines characteristic of Torii Kiyonaga’s signature "Kiyonaga Beauty" style. Their expressions are calm and relaxed, perfectly capturing the leisurely mood of Edo-period women enjoying a garden outing to cool off and admire the flora. The print features a warm, elegant color palette and is produced using traditional multi-block woodblock printing; the *washi* paper possesses an authentic, rustic texture, and traces of the woodblock impression are visible on the reverse side.