Two Geisha
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 28 5/16 in. (71.9 cm); W. 4 7/8 in. (12.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1922
Accession Number
JP1437
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Two Geisha** by Torii Kiyonaga is a captivating woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (1615–1868), showcasing the artist's mastery in the ukiyo-e tradition—"pictures of the floating world that celebrated everyday pleasures, beauty, and theater. Kiyonaga, a leading figure in the Torii school, was renowned for his elegant depictions of women and actors, blending graceful figures with vibrant colors and intricate patterns. This narrow vertical format, known as a *hashira-e* or pillar print (H. 28 5/16 in.; W. 4 7/8 in.), was designed to adorn the wooden pillars in traditional Japanese homes, ...
About the Artist
Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815
Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...