Courtesans relaxing in the afternoon

Title

Courtesans relaxing in the afternoon
Artist/maker

Katsukawa Shunchō (active 1780 - 1795) (designer)
Associated people

Nishimuraya Yohachi (c. 1751 - c. 1870) (publisher)
Associated place

Tōkyō (place of creation)

Tōkyō (place of publication)

Tōkyō (Yoshiwara) (subject)
Date

1780 - 1795
Material and technique

nishiki-e (multi-block) woodblock print, printed with water-based vegetable pigments
Material index

paper
Technique index

colour woodcut
Object type

triptych print
Dimensions

mount 55.3 x 40.6 cm (height x width)
print 39.2 x 25.8 cm (height x width)
No. of items

1
Credit line

Presented by Mrs E. M. Allan and Mr and Mrs H. N. Spalding from the Herbert H. Jennings Collection, 1952.
Museum location

not on display
Museum department

Eastern Art
Accession no.

EAX.4082

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Catalogue text

Courtesans gathered chatting on the veranda of a Green House with the shōji (sliding doors made with paper) open, on a cheerful sunny day. Even the cat seems to be relaxed. In the background Shunchō has, most unusually, used geometrical perspective, showing the details of the structure of a Green house of the period, easily divided into small rooms suitable for small parties.

During the Edo era, the style and thickness of kimono was changed four times a year. These girls are wearing awase (lined kimono) which were worn in early summer and late autumn. The design of chrysanthemum on the kimono of the central standing girl may relate to the Chrysanthemum Festival in September.

nishiki-e

vegetable pigments

ref-url