青楼美人 六花撰 扇屋内花扇|A Courtesan with Wisteria on the Background
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm); W. 9 1/4 in. (23.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Museum Accession
Accession Number
JP1090
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–8), woodblock prints like *A Courtesan withisteria on the Background captured the "floating world" of urban pleasures. Created by Utamaro II, a talented pupil of the renowned ukiyo-e master Kitagawa Utaro, this print belongs to the bijin-ga tradition—elegant depictions of beautiful women. Part of the series *Rokka-sen* (Six Flowers) from the Ogi-ya pleasure house, it showcases a courtesan amid cascading wisteria, evoking the seasonal beauty and fleeting allure of the Yoshiwara district's entertainment quarters. The artwork's medium—ink and color ...