A Kamuro is Shown Bringing a Love Letter to Her Mistress
Medium
Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper
Dimensions
10 1/4 x 14 11/16 in. (26 x 37.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Meiji period (1868–1912)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
MJP31
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the enchanting world of Japanese ukiyo-e prints, Okumura Masanobu's *A Kamuro is Shown Bringing a Letter to Her Mistress* captures a tender moment from the floating world of pleasure districts. A young kamuro—a child attendant to high-ranking courtesans—delivers secretive love letter to her elegant mistress, evoking the and romance of Yoshiwara, Edo's famed entertainment quarter. Rendered in delicate monochrome ink on paper, this woodblock print measures a modest 10¼ × 14⅝ inches, its intimate scale suggesting it was designed for a fan, a popular format blending utility with artistry. Prod...
About the Artist
Okumura Masanobu · 1686–1764
Japanese, 1686–1764