Bijin Shinobazu-ike

The Japanese word "kuchi-e" literally translates as "picture mouth" and, in a descriptive manner typical of many Japanese terms, refers to the multi-colored woodblock prints that were inserted into the fronts (i.e., the "mouth") of literary journals and novels during the later years of Japan's Meiji era. Due primarily to the time period in which they were produced, many of these illustrations were created to the highest standards, exhibiting advanced printing techniques typical of "surimono" (custom-made woodblocks), such as the use of shading, burnishing, metallic pigments, and highly detailed carving.

Although some "kuchi-e" books were smaller in size and did not require folding, these woodblock illustrations were generally produced as large prints inserted into the fronts of folded books. As these novels and literary magazines were generally printed and bound in a narrower format, a "kuchi-e" print required two folds in order to fit into the closed book.