A young Japanese woman in kimono and traditional hairstyle is holding her hand to her chin, an apparently bashful gesture often seen on photos, illustrations and ukiyo-e (woodblock prints) from the Meiji and Taisho periods.
This postcard was published sometime after 1918. During the early 20th century, picture postcards of bijin (beautiful women) were extremely popular in Japan (see Woman with Rose).
Published
Updated
Reader Supported
Old Photos of Japan aims to be your personal museum for Japan's visual heritage and to bring the experiences of everyday life in old Japan to you.
To enhance our understanding of Japanese culture and society I track down, acquire, archive, and research images of everyday life, and give them context.
I share what I have found for free on this site, without ads or selling your data.
Your support helps me to continue doing so, and ensures that this exceptional visual heritage will not be lost and forgotten.
Thank you,
Kjeld Duits
Reference for Citations
Duits, Kjeld (). 1920s: Woman with Hand to Chin, OLD PHOTOS of JAPAN. Retrieved on August 27, 2026 (GMT) from https://www.oldphotosjapan.com/photos/88/woman-with-hand-to-chin
There are currently no comments on this article.