A young woman reading near a screen
1615-1868
Classification
Painting
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Charles Lang Freer
Accession Number
F1898.12
Tags
About this artwork
Signature and one seal.
Art Historical Context
This enchanting kakemono, or hanging scroll painting, titled *A Young Woman Reading Near a Screen*, hails from Japan's Edo period (16151868), a time of relative peace and cultural flourishing under the Tokugawa shogunate. Produced in the ukiyo-e—"pictures of the floating world"— captures the ephemeral beauty of everyday life, often focusing on graceful figures like courtesans, actors, or refined women. Though the artist remains unknown, the presence of a signature and one attests to the meticulous authentication common in Japanese scroll paintings, which were designed to be displayed seasonall...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...