青楼歌舞妓やつし画尽 十番続|The Oiran Yoyogiku of Matsubaya Standing under a Cherry Tree
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm); W. 9 7/8 in. (25.1 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Accession Number
JP976
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan with Kitagawa Utamaro's *The Oiran Yoyogiku of Matsubaya Standing a Cherry Tree*, a stunning woodblock print from thekiyo-e tradition. Created during the 1615–1868 Edo period, this work captures the elegance of Yoyogiku, a oiran (high-ranking courtesan) the famed Matsubaya house in Yoshiwara, Tokyo's pleasure district. Utaro, a master of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), immortalizes her poised beneath blooming cherry blossoms, symbols of fleeting beauty in Japanese culture. The print's intimate dimensions—15 1/8 x 9 7/8 inches—make it a pe...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...