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Asian Art

Courtesans Strolling Beneath Cherry Trees Before the Daikokuya Teahouse

Kitagawa Utamaro

1 of 3

Object Label

Kitagawa Utamaro is known primarily for his images of beautiful women. This trio of prints is unusual because the artist names all of his subjects. The extravagantly dressed women are courtesans, indicated by their obi sashes tied at the front. (Women who are not in the sex trade—including the geishas who provide non-sexual entertainment at parties—tie their obis at the back.) Accompanied by child attendants, they admire the blossoming cherry trees that were transplanted to the entertainment district each spring. The colors in this triptych are remarkably well preserved: the dyes Utamaro used for light blue and lavender are very susceptible to fading and have turned gray in most other examples.

Caption

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753–1806). Courtesans Strolling Beneath Cherry Trees Before the Daikokuya Teahouse, probably 1789. Woodblock print, color on paper, 15 3/8 x 10 3/8 in. (39.1 x 26.4 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Estate of Charles A. Brandon, by exchange; purchased with funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Danziger, Joan Easton, Mrs. Myron S. Falk, Jr., George S. Friedman, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kingdon, Klaus F. Naumann, Robert Rosenkranz, and Mr. and Mrs. David Young and Asian Art Acquisition Fund, 1995.137a-c. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)

Gallery

Not on view

Collection

Asian Art

Title

Courtesans Strolling Beneath Cherry Trees Before the Daikokuya Teahouse

Date

probably 1789

Period

Edo Period

Geography

Place made: Japan

Medium

Woodblock print, color on paper

Classification

Print

Dimensions

15 3/8 x 10 3/8 in. (39.1 x 26.4 cm)

Signatures

Utamaro ga 歌麿画

Inscriptions

Figures identified by inscription on each page: Left: Kasugano of the Ogiya (main courtesan) with child attendants (kamuro) Wakana and Kocho, apprentices Harusono, Harukinu, Harukaze, and Harukusa. Middle: Yoshino of the Wakamatsuya (main courtesan) with child attendants Momiji and Shigeno, apprentices Mikishino, Yoshitaka, Yoshisato, and Yoshitomi Right: Nabiki of the Wakamatsuya (main courtesan) with child attendants Takeji and Kikuji, apprentices Ninae, Hanasumi, Nanasato, and Nanahime. (Reading is courtesy of Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Unclear how to read it because there are only 2 apprentices in the center and right pages, but more names listed)

Markings

Publisher: Tsutaya Jūzaburō (Kōshodō)

Credit Line

Gift of the Estate of Charles A. Brandon, by exchange; purchased with funds given by Mr. and Mrs. Richard M. Danziger, Joan Easton, Mrs. Myron S. Falk, Jr., George S. Friedman, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Kingdon, Klaus F. Naumann, Robert Rosenkranz, and Mr. and Mrs. David Young and Asian Art Acquisition Fund

Accession Number

1995.137a-c

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Artists and makers

Kitagawa Utamaro

25 works in the collection