Courtesan Dreaming of Procession
1814
Medium
Color woodblock print; shikishiban, surimono
Dimensions
20.8 × 18.3 cm (8 1/4 × 7 1/4 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
81382
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Kubo Shunman's *Courtesan Dreaming of Procession* (1814) captures the fleeting pleasures of the "floating world" through a delicate color woodblock print. This shikishiban surim—a square-format luxury print privately commissioned for elite patrons—depicts a courtesan lost in reverie, perhaps envisioning a grand festival procession. Shunman (1770–1820), a master ukiyo-e artist and, blended his literary talents with visual artistry, often producing these high-end prints adorned with poems for New Year's greetings or intimate gatherings. The ...
About the Artist
Kubo Shunman · 1757–1820
Japanese, 1757–1820