Courtesans of the Ogiya, 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
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32172
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with *Courtesans of the Ogiya*, a stunning double-page color woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho from 1776. Featured in volume 1 of the illustrated book *Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure QuartersSeiro bijin aw sugata kagami)*, this artwork captures the alluring elegance of courtesans at the renowned Ogiya brothel in Yoshiwara, Tokyo's famed pleasure district. Shunsho, a leading figure in the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") movement, masterfully depicted the transient pleasures of urban life, blending beauty, theater, and sens...