Beauty Turning Her Head
c. 1685-94
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and colors on paper
Dimensions
70.6 × 26.5 cm (27 × 10 in.); With mounting: 151.1 × 38.1 cm (59 1/2 × 15 in.); Width including lower roller: W.: 43.2 cm (17 in.)
Classification
asian art
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
249461
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Hishikawa Moronobu was known for producing images of common people’s leisurely pursuits during the Edo period (1615–1868) and has been credited as the first true artist of ukiyo-e (“floating world” pictures). He rarely painted single beauties like this example, but his depictions of Tokyo’s inhabitants enjoying arts, beauty, and fashion—including their visits to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters—were renowned for capturing the spirit of the age. Moronobu was originally from Awa province (now Chiba...
About the Artist
Hishikawa Moronobu
Hishikawa Moronobu (1618–1694) holds an unassailable position in Japanese art history as the founder of ukiyo-e, the 'pictures of the floating world' that would become Japan's most internationally recognized art form. Born in the provincial town of Yasuda during the early Edo period, Moronobu transformed woodblock printing from a purely utilitarian craft into an independent artistic medium, establ...