Kuchi-e prints are wood block printed frontispiece illustrations used in the publication of Japanese novels and magazines around the turn of the 20th century. Most of the kuchi-e prints were illustrations of bijin and continued the Japanese woodblock print tradition of the idealization of beauties in Japanese art.  Kuchi-e prints always have a horizontal or vertical fold because of their insertion in a magazine or book as an illustrative print.  Kuchi-e prints have become highly sought after and collected recently by serious collectors.

This piece is a great example of the traditions of both woodblock prints of women and of plantlife such as trees and flowers coming together to make a beautiful overall piece.  The intense expression combined with a reluctance suggested by her hand on the post makes one wonder of the story for which this piece was designed.