Oiran and Attendant out for a Stroll
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 27 5/8 in. (70.2 cm); W. 4 7/16 in. (11.3 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1710
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Isoda Koryūsai's *Oiran and Attendant out for Stroll* captures the of urban life through a classic ukiyo-e woodblock. Created in the late 18th century, tall, narrow hashira-e (pillar printmeasuring 27 5/8 by 4 7/16 inches—was designed to hang vertically on architectural pillars, immersing viewers in the "floating world" of pleasure districts like Yoshiwara. Koryai, a master ofin-ga (images of beautiful women), depicts a high-ranking courtesan, or oiran, accompanied by her attendant, both adorned in elaborate kimonos that highlight the era's...
About the Artist
Isoda Koryūsai · 1735–1790
Japanese, 1735–ca. 1790