P21 Antique Japanese Advertising Poster – Ushiho-zome Yukata (うしほ染 浴衣), Pre-War Japan SOLD

This is a striking antique Japanese advertising poster promoting Ushiho-zome yukata, a type of traditionally dyed summer kimono fabric. The composition features a beautifully rendered young woman seated by the seaside, holding a round uchiwa fan, with sailing boats visible on the horizon behind her. The calm expression, elegant posture, and finely detailed kimono reflect the refined ideal of feminine beauty in pre-war Japan.

The large calligraphic text at the upper right reads 「うしほ染 浴衣」 (Ushiho-zome Yukata), indicating that this is an advertisement for a specific dyeing style or brand of yukata fabric rather than a generic image. Such posters were produced to promote seasonal clothing, especially summer garments, and were commonly displayed in textile shops and kimono stores.

The artwork is executed in a highly polished, painterly style closely related to bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), but adapted here for modern commercial advertising. The subtle shading of the face, the rich textile patterns, and the atmospheric coastal background show the high level of craftsmanship typical of Taishō to early Shōwa period lithographic posters.

At the lower margin appears the printer’s credit in Tokyo, a common feature of high-quality commercial posters of the era.

This is an excellent example of pre-war Japanese graphic design, combining traditional aesthetics with modern advertising culture during a period when kimono and yukata were still everyday fashion items.

Subject: Ushiho-zome Yukata (dyed summer kimono fabric)
Period: Pre-war Japan, Taishō to early Shōwa period (circa 1910s–1930s)
Technique: Lithographic advertising poster
Country: Japan
Size: 88 × 57 cm
SOLD