Collection
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Asian Art

The Courtesans Usugomo, Haruka, and Yayoi of the Tamaya Teahouse

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

1 of 2

Caption

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1798–1861). The Courtesans Usugomo, Haruka, and Yayoi of the Tamaya Teahouse, ca. 1840. Color woodblock print on paper, Other (Sheet): 15 3/8 x 10 7/8 in. (39.1 x 27.6 cm) Other (Image): 14 9/16 x 10 1/4 in. (37 x 26 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Anonymous gift, 76.151.16. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Title

The Courtesans Usugomo, Haruka, and Yayoi of the Tamaya Teahouse

Date

ca. 1840

Period

Edo Period

Geography

Place made: Japan

Medium

Color woodblock print on paper

Classification

Print

Dimensions

Other (Sheet): 15 3/8 x 10 7/8 in. (39.1 x 27.6 cm) Other (Image): 14 9/16 x 10 1/4 in. (37 x 26 cm)

Signatures

Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga

Markings

Publisher's seal: Sanyo-ya Kihei Censor's seal: Kiwame

Credit Line

Anonymous gift

Accession Number

76.151.16

Frequent Art Questions

  • Can you tell me what the names Usugomo, Haruka and Yayoi mean?

    These are names of famous courtesans from the Yoshiwara district in the city of Edo. Women in the Yoshiwara often chose professional names that had classical and elegant appeal. The woman portrayed here is Usugomo.
    This type of print, called a "bijinga", often depicted actual woman but in such a stylized, idealized way that it would be very hard to call them portraits.

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Artists and makers

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

11 works in the collection