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Title

Courtesan in an iris-patterned robe: "June" in a series of Twelve Months

Artist

Kaigetsudô Dohan

Physical Description

This is a large monochrome print of a courtesan wearing kimono with iris design. The courtesan is standing with her right hand in the sleeve that she raises to her chin and left hand gathering up her kimono; Her cloak with bamboo leaf and gentian flower design is slipping off her shoulder and revealing her dark kimono with iris roundels. She has long hair; her hair is tied and draped on the back. She is looking toward the right side. There is the artist’s signature and seal, and publisher’s seal on the right.

Artist Life Dates

active 1710 - 1716

Century

18th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1714

Accession Number

1955/1.128

Medium and Support

Kakemono-e (oversize) sumizurii-e (monochrome woodblock print) on paper

relevance

rank 11.74591

Primary Keywords

bamboo

courtesan

kimono

standing position

Title

Courtesans of the Chôjiya: Hinatsuru and Her Attendant

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Physical Description

The kneeling figure in the foreground is grand courtesan Hinatsuru. Her kamuro (attendant) is arranging a vase of chrysanthemums beside her. The circular inset contains a poet and his poem addressed to the two of them:

In its wake

The autumn grasses wither.

Indeed, the mountain wind

Has now become a gale.

Artist Life Dates

(Edo, 1754 - 1806, Edo)

Century

18th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1790

Accession Number

1948/1.184

Medium and Support

Ôban (large size) nishiki-e (full-color woodblock print) on paper

relevance

rank 11.74591

Primary Keywords

courtesan

poem

ukiyo-e

woodblock prints

Title

Courtesan in procession

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Physical Description

This is a portrait of courtesan and her attendant. The courtesan wears a kimono with overall cherry blossom patterns and a darker color cloak with fan, plover and wave design lining with overall cherry blossom design silk; the cloak is slipping from her right shoulder. Her obi is draped in front; it has overall hollyhock pattern. Her face is white; Her hair is sculpted like a balloon on the top and has broad wings to the side. Tortoise-shell comb and multiple hairpins adorn the hair. She is strolling toward the right. Her attendant is walking behind her, her face and body partially hidden by the courtesan. She wears the matching kimono with plover and wave design; her kimono has long sleeves (furisode), whose openings are tied with ribbons. Her obi, with peony and geometric design, is tied at the back. Her hair is in the similar shape as the courtesan but not too exaggerated. But she wears an enormous hair accessory consisting of cherry blossoms and tassels, made of silver. Her face is also in white. The painting is accompanied by poem written by Santô Kyôden with his signature and two seals. On the lower left, there are the artist's signature and seal. The mounting is made of silk brocade with embroidery in the design of clematis and millets.

Artist Life Dates

1754-1806

Century

18th century

Object Creation Date

circa 1793-1795

Accession Number

1962/1.104

Medium and Support

ink, white pigment, and red color on paper

relevance

rank 11.74591

Primary Keywords

calligraphy

child

courtesan

kimono

poetry

Title

Courtesan and client: parody of the Kiritsubo Chapter of the Tale of Genji (Mitate Genji Kiritsubo)

Artist

Okumura Masanobu

Physical Description

A monochrome print depicting two standing women and a reclining man in a room. The taller woman, a courtesan, wears an elaborate kimono of butterfly design and under-kimono of geometric patterns; her hair is tied on the back, wearing tortoise shell comb and hairpin. She is holding skirts of kimono and under-kimono with her right hand and is hiding her left hand under the kimono. The second woman, an attendant, is standing behind the courtesan, holding a doll of a boy and her face turning away. She wears a plain kimono with pine tree design and obi (sash) with striped patterns. The man is reclining and looking toward the courtesan. They seem to engage in conversation. The man wears kimono with design of coins and short jacket with plaid patterns. His hair is shaved on top and tied on the back. There is a folded screen behind him, depicting a plum tree by river. In front of him, there are a sake pitcher, sake cup and its stand, and a bowl with food accompanied by a tray and chopsticks. There is a title of the print in cartouche at upper right.

Artist Life Dates

1686-1764

Century

18th century

Object Creation Date

1711-1716

Accession Number

1948/1.198

Medium and Support

Oban (large-size) sumizurii-e (monochrome woodblock print) on paper

relevance

rank 11.49588

Primary Keywords

brothels

butterfiles

courtesan

plumb tree

screen (furniture)

Title

Beauty under Cherry Blossoms

Artist

Hosoda Eishi

Physical Description

This is a portrait of a courtesan and her two attendants. The courtesan wears a red cloak with a peacock flying over peonies and a pale green color kimono with “shippô” (seven treasures) pattern. Her green obi, tied in the front, has design of red and blue clouds with gold plants. She is turning away from a viewer to show the gorgeous cloak. Her hair is sculpted in a butterfly shape on the top and has wings to the side. Tortoise-shell combs and multiple hairpins adorn the hair. Her two attendants flank the courtesan; they wear matching, dark green kimono with chrysanthemum flower design and red underkimono. Their kimono have especially long sleeves (furisode), whose openings are tied with ribbons. Their obi are in brocade and tied on their backs. Their hair is sculpted in round shape on their tops and has side wings like the courtesan. They wear silver hair accessories of cherry blossoms and tassels, long hairpins and red silk ribbons. The attendant on the left holds a battledore pad and the right attendant holds a ball. All the women wear black platform sandals. There is a cherry tree in full blossom on the right, from which some petals fall on the women and the ground. There are the artist’s signature and seal on the lower right corner. It has mounting of beige silk and two strips of floral pattern brocade on the top and bottom of the painting.

Artist Life Dates

1756-1829

Century

19th century

Object Creation Date

1810

Accession Number

1977/1.180

Medium and Support

ink and color on silk

relevance

rank 10.80582

Primary Keywords

ball (recreational artifact)

cherry tree

children (people by age group)

courtesan

kimono

peacock

peonies