Courtesans as the Six Poetry Immortals
Book
before 1815 (made)
before 1815 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The linking of beautiful courtesans to icons of Japanese history and legend was a common theme in the popular art of the Edo period (1615-1868). In this illustrated printed book, the artist compares six courtesans to the Six Immortals of Poetry.
On this page of the book, the illustrator Torii Kiyomitsu II (1787-1868) links the courtesan Ôyodo of the Tsuruya House in Edo (modern Tokyo) to one of Japan's six best-loved poets, whose image is in the top right-hand frame. In the central roundel, the courtesan is pictured with a brush and scroll in her hand and her gorgeous robes spilling about her. The crane motif on her outer robe is a play on the name of her brothel, which means The House of Cranes.
Until 1815, Kiyomitsu II used the name Torii Kiyomine I. The fact that he uses his earlier name in this book indicates that it was produced prior to 1815.
On this page of the book, the illustrator Torii Kiyomitsu II (1787-1868) links the courtesan Ôyodo of the Tsuruya House in Edo (modern Tokyo) to one of Japan's six best-loved poets, whose image is in the top right-hand frame. In the central roundel, the courtesan is pictured with a brush and scroll in her hand and her gorgeous robes spilling about her. The crane motif on her outer robe is a play on the name of her brothel, which means The House of Cranes.
Until 1815, Kiyomitsu II used the name Torii Kiyomine I. The fact that he uses his earlier name in this book indicates that it was produced prior to 1815.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Titles |
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| Materials and techniques | Printed in colour, from wood blocks, on paper. Concertina style binding with silk spine |
| Brief description | Pap, Japan, prints |
| Physical description | Illustrated book |
| Dimensions |
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| Styles | |
| Credit line | Given by the Misses Alexander |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | The linking of beautiful courtesans to icons of Japanese history and legend was a common theme in the popular art of the Edo period (1615-1868). In this illustrated printed book, the artist compares six courtesans to the Six Immortals of Poetry. On this page of the book, the illustrator Torii Kiyomitsu II (1787-1868) links the courtesan Ôyodo of the Tsuruya House in Edo (modern Tokyo) to one of Japan's six best-loved poets, whose image is in the top right-hand frame. In the central roundel, the courtesan is pictured with a brush and scroll in her hand and her gorgeous robes spilling about her. The crane motif on her outer robe is a play on the name of her brothel, which means The House of Cranes. Until 1815, Kiyomitsu II used the name Torii Kiyomine I. The fact that he uses his earlier name in this book indicates that it was produced prior to 1815. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.6814-1916 |
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| Record created | October 23, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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