Courtesans of the Kagemanjiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami)," vol. 1
Medium
Color woodblock print; double-page illustration cut from a book
Dimensions
22.6 × 30.2 cm (8 7/8 × 11 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32155
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japan, Katsukawa Shunshō's *Courtesans of the Kagemanjiya* captures the allure of Edo's pleasure quarters. This double-page color woodblock print extracted from volume 1 of illustrated book *Mirror of Beautiful Women the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami)*, dates to 1776. Shunshō, a leading figure in the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") movement, masterfully depicts elegant courtesans from the Kagemanjiya house in Tokyo's famed Yoshiwara district, showcasing their elaborate kimonos, hairstyles, and poised demeanor in a comparative...