Courtesan Going to Bed, from the series "Ten Types of Beauties in Pictures (Jittai e-fuzoku)"

Art Historical Context

Torii Kiyonaga's *Courtesan Going to Bed*, from the series *Ten Types of Beauties in Pictures (Jittai e-fuzoku)*, captures the elegance of Edo-period Japan around 1794. As a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world"—Kiyonaga specialized in bijin-ga, or images of beautiful women, often drawn from the glamorous Yoshiwara pleasure district. This color woodblock print on oban format (a standard large size of about 39 x 26 cm) depicts a courtesan in an intimate bedtime moment, showcasing the refined allure of these celebrated figures who embodied contemporary ideals of beauty and sophistication. Kiyonaga's artistic prowess shines in his graceful, elongated figures and meticulous attention to fabrics, with flowing kimonos rendered in vibrant colors achieved through intricate woodblock printing techniques. Multiple carved blocks were inked in precise hues and layered to create depth and texture, a hallmark of late 18th-century Japanese printmaking that made such art accessible to a wide audience beyond the elite. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this print reflects ukiyo-e's cultural role in celebrating fleeting pleasures amid Japan's rigid social structure. It invites viewers to ponder the artistry behind everyday glamour, offering a window into a world where beauty was both ephemeral and eternally captivating.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815

Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...