Who created "Three Beauties"?

Three Beauties was created by Nishikawa Sukenobu in 18th century.

When was "Three Beauties" created?

This artwork was created 18th century.

What medium is "Three Beauties"?

Three Beauties is Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper.

Is "Three Beauties" in the public domain?

Yes, Three Beauties is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Three Beauties

Nishikawa Sukenobu

18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Dimensions

Image: 14 1/4 in. × 21 in. (36.2 × 53.3 cm) Overall with mounting: 51 1/8 × 26 7/8 in. (129.9 × 68.3 cm) Overall with knobs: 51 1/8 × 29 1/4 in. (129.9 × 74.3 cm)

Classification

Paintings

Culture & Period

Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)

Department

Asian Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914

Accession Number

14.76.42

Tags

Musical InstrumentsWomen

Art Historical Context

"Three Beauties" is a captivating hanging scroll by Nishikawa Sukenobu, a prominent ukiyo-e of Japan's Edo period (1615–8). Created in the 18th century, ink and color on paper painting (14¼ × 21 in.) exemplifies the "floating world" genre, the elegance and leisure of beautiful women—bijin-ga. Here, three graceful figures engage with musical instruments, evoking the refined world of courtesans and urban pleasures in bustling Edo (modern Tokyo). Sukenobu's mastery shines in his delicate brushwork, blending soft ink lines with vibrant colors to convey poise and sensuality. Hanging scrolls like t...

About the Artist

Nishikawa Sukenobu · 1671–1751

Japanese, 1671–1750

Three Beauties

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