Standing Beauty
1661/73
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on paper
Dimensions
66.0 × 27.0 cm (26 × 10 5/8 in.), including mount and knobs: 145.8 × 39.6 cm (57 7/16 × 15 5/8 in.)
Classification
hanging scroll
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
74242
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
In this idealized depiction, a beautiful woman with a confident expression holds her kimono as she strides with purpose. The bold print of her garment—which features designs of large flowers, waves, and a square water-well motif near the bottom—was the height of fashion during the mid-17 th century. At this time, many paintings of individual beauties with blank backgrounds were produced for an eager urban market.
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...