An ink composition for ink-jet printing contains a water-soluble dye having an anthraquinone skeleton and a water solubility of 50 g/L or less at 30.degree. C. and at least one polyoxyethylene alkyl ether having an HLB of 11.4 to 18.8 and the following formula: ##STR00001## wherein n is four to 100 and Ra is a saturated alkyl group with eight to 24 carbon atoms.