The Courtesan Sonomume of Maruya

Maker(s)
Artist: Suzuki Harunobu 鈴木春信 (1724-1770)
Historical period(s)
Edo period, 1725-1770
Medium
Ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H x W: 21.3 x 14.7 cm (8 3/8 x 5 13/16 in)
Geography
Japan
Credit Line
Gift of the family of Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art
Accession Number
F1974.47
On View Location
Currently not on view
Classification(s)
Print
Type

Woodblock print

Keywords
bijinga, courtesan, Edo period (1615 - 1868), Japan, mirror, ukiyo-e, woman
Provenance
Provenance research underway.
Label

The artist Harunobu flourished during the most important transition in the history of Japanese woodblock printing--the shift to full-color printing with multiple registered blocks. The illustrated book, Yoshiwara bijin awase (Comparison of beauties of the Yoshiwara), was published in 1770, five years after the color printing process was perfected. Attributed to Harunobu in its preface, the book portrays individual courtesans from the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter of Edo (modern Tokyo). This print of the courtesan Sonomume of Maruya is a detached page from the book; the signature of Harunobu has been added at a later date. The pose of the courtesan gives a full view of the nape of her neck, an erotic feature, while her face is reflected in her hand mirror.

Collection Area(s)
Japanese Art
Web Resources
Google Cultural Institute
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