'Parading courtesan'
Woodblock Print
1804-1818 (made)
1804-1818 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
The seductive power of courtesans, and images of them, relied on gorgeous garments. This woman wears many layers of kimono, each pulled back at the collar to sensually reveal the nape of her neck. A dragon adorns her outer kimono, while her inner garment has the red, tie-dyed hemp-leaf pattern so favoured by courtesans. She wears her large obi tied at the front, and the ensemble is styled with an extravagant hair arrangement and high geta (shoes).
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | 'Parading courtesan' (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Woodblock print on paper |
| Brief description | Woodblock print 'Parading courtesan' by Katsukawa Shunsen (fl.1787-1790), Japan, Edo (Tokyo), 1804–1818 |
| Physical description | Woodblock print. Kakemono-e format, nishiki-e (full-colour print). Figure on plain ground. |
| Dimensions |
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| Gallery label |
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| Object history | Purchased from S. M. Franck & Co., accessioned in 1886. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | The seductive power of courtesans, and images of them, relied on gorgeous garments. This woman wears many layers of kimono, each pulled back at the collar to sensually reveal the nape of her neck. A dragon adorns her outer kimono, while her inner garment has the red, tie-dyed hemp-leaf pattern so favoured by courtesans. She wears her large obi tied at the front, and the ensemble is styled with an extravagant hair arrangement and high geta (shoes). |
| Bibliographic reference | Jackson, Anna (editor), Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk, London: V&A Publications, 2020
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.12564-1886 |
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| Record created | June 25, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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