Untitled

Nishikawa Sukenobu 西川祐信

early 18th century · Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk · Asian Art

A seated courtesan is dressed in a gray-patterned over-robe (uchikake), a brilliant red kimono decorated with white dots arranged in a faux tie dyed pattern, and a white under-robe. Her two tiered chignon is fastened with a white cloth tie and a tortoiseshell comb. She leans against a kotatsu brazier covered by a low table and a cloth for warmth during the winter season. In one hand she holds a long stemmed tobacco pipe (kiseru), and with the other she caresses a kitten. In front of her is a lacquered tray containing a set of utensils used for smoking, along with the pipe of her unseen male client. A three-stringed shamisen lies beside her, its plectrum tucked beneath the strings.

Artist

Nishikawa Sukenobu 西川祐信

Date

early 18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of Barbara Brennan Ford, 2020