「扇屋内花扇図」|The Courtesan Hanaōgi of the Ōgiya Brothel in Yoshiwara (Ōgiya uchi Hanaōgi, Yoshino, Tatsuta)

Kitagawa Utamaro

ca. 1793–94 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

In this half-length portrait of the courtesan Hanaōgi of the Ōgiya, the subject holds a writing brush and paper. In the square shikishi (poem card) cartouche is the name of the courtesan and her attendants, Yoshino and Tatsuta. In the vertical tanzaku-shaped cartouche is a poem in praise of her: Noserarete miru yū gao no Hanaōgi hito no kokoro ni aki no kozareba Attracted by her face in the evening, like a gourd flower in autumn, no one can ever weary of Hanaō gi’s beauty. [Signed] Yanagihara Mukai —Trans. John T. Carpenter

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Date

ca. 1793–94

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Fletcher Fund, 1929