Pre-Order: Sentō Bathhouse A3 Riso Art Print
A sentō (銭湯) is a type of communal bathhouse found in Japan. These establishments were once the norm for people to visit for daily bathing routines, but since the second half of the 20th century when bathtubs became a more standard feature in Japanese homes, their numbers have decreased significantly. According to a survey in 2018, there are now fewer than 4000 bathhouses remaining countrywide. Still, dedicated bathhouse regulars insist that sentō are not just about bathing—they carry social and cultural importance, too. The time spent bathing and relaxing with fellow community members in such an intimate environment has a clear influence on maintaining strong relationships.
A common feature found throughout many bathhouses in the Kanto region of Japan are the large, painted murals of Mount Fuji looming over the premises. The very first mural was painted in 1912 in the Kikai-yu bathhouse in Chiyoda, Tokyo. The painter, originally from Shizuoka, wanted to make customers happy by painting a symbol of his hometown for all to enjoy. The mural drew attention and its popularity inspired other bathhouses to follow suit. Today, there are only three remaining mural painters left in Japan, including 38 year old Tanaka Mizuki—Japan's first and only woman mural painter.
This four-colour riso print has been inspired by traditional shin-hanga woodblock printing, and would be the perfect addition to a relaxing bathroom decor.
What is a riso print?
These prints use risograph technology, a method of printing developed in Japan in the mid-1980s. It can be described as a mix between screenprinting and photocopying. The risograph process produces prints with extremely vibrant, crisp inks. Sometimes these inks overlap during the printing process to create interesting and unique details—these slight variations and colour shifts are part of the charm of riso, adding character and a handmade-feel to the art. These soy-based inks also have a lower environmental impact.
Please note: riso’s soy inks are similar to newspaper printing in that they never get fully absorbed into the paper, so take care not to handle the print or touch the ink directly to avoid any risk of smudging.
Product details
Printed in Glasgow, UK by the acclaimed Risotto print studio. Each print is A3 size (297 x 420 mm / 11.7 x 16.5 in) and is printed on 250gsm heavyweight 100% recycled and FSC® Recycled certified Context paper.
Each print is signed with a traditional Japanese red ‘hanko’ artist stamp. Prints are packaged in cello bags with rigid cardboard inserts and shipped in flat mailers.
Please note that frames are not included.
Delivery times & prices
We ship worldwide. 日本へ国際郵便で送ります。
UK deliveries: 3-4 working days via Royal Mail 1st class
International deliveries available via Royal Mail International Standard Airmail
Prices calculated during checkout For more information on shipping times for international deliveries, please check the delivery & returns page.
NOTE TO AMERICAN CUSTOMERS:
As of July 1 2020, international parcel shipping rates to America have increased by over 100%. This has come to a huge shock to many of us small business owners. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has been forced to increase their rates by the US government, and as a result, these increases have been passed on to Royal Mail customers here in the United Kingdom.
This price increase only affects parcel-sized packages, and this A3-size print can only be shipped to the United States in this method. The rates for letter mail and large letter have not changed, so if you cannot justify the shipping cost and would still like to order something from my store, I would recommend looking at my pins, patches, and smaller A4 sized-prints. If you don’t mind the shipping cost, please go ahead and order! I apologise for the inconvenience, and hope that you understand the changes are beyond my control.
Pre-Order Information
This print is a pre-order item and is expected to ship around November 29 2023.
このアイテムは予約商品です。お届け予定：2023年11月29日から送られます。