High-Ranking Courtesans of the Three Capitals - A Set of Three (Santo tayu sanpukutsui)
c. 1740
Medium
Hand-colored woodblock print; uncut hosoban triptych, urushi-e
Dimensions
33.7 × 48.1 cm (13 1/4 × 19 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
23213
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of 18th-century Japan, Torii Kiyomasu II's *High-Ranking Courtesans of the Three Cap - A Set of Three (c. 1740) captures the of the ukiyo-e tradition, or "pictures of the floating world." by the esteemed Torii school, renowned for its dynamic actor portraits and bijin-ga (beautiful women prints), this hand-colored woodblock print showcases tayū—top-tier courtesans Edo (Tokyo), Kyoto, and Osaka Presented as an uncut hosoban triptych, the three narrow sheets form a panoramic 33.7 × 48.1 cm composition, offering a rare glimpse into their opulent lives amid the pleasure distri...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyomasu II · 1706–1763
At one point this artist was incorrectly identified as Kiyonobu II.