Woman with a Folding Fan and Hand Mirror, from the series Sensuous Young Women of Contemporary Times
Conceived by one of the most popular artists of ukiyo-e woodblock printmaking, this fan leaf displays a high-ranking courtesan who holds up a fancifully dotted fan-within-the-fan while examining herself in a mirror. A rolled set of all-purpose paper for use in the boudoir after sexual encounters juts out of her bright blue kimono. The riot of bold colors and the abstract design in the background were the kinds of elements that attracted late nineteenth-century European artists and collectors to ukiyo-e prints. Kunisada incorporated depictions of textiles as backgrounds in some of his fans; here, he included a representation of a fashionable, complex shibori-dyed fabric. In the nearby case, a fan utilizes paper dyed to imitate a similar textile.
Artwork Details
- Title: Woman with a Folding Fan and Hand Mirror, from the series Sensuous Young Women of Contemporary Times
- Artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: 1838
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
- Dimensions: Image: 11 3/8 x 8 3/4 in. (28.9 x 22.2 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Bequest of William S. Lieberman, 2005
- Object Number: 2007.49.267
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
probably 1815
Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
19th century
Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
ca. 1840
Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
1854
Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1864)
1786–1864
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