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Early Evening at a Yoshiwara Inn

Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 Japanese

ca. 1672–89

Not on view

This painting looks into the interior of a teahouse (ageya) in the Yoshiwara, the licensed pleasure quarter on the outskirts of the city of Edo. When a patron sought the services of a high-ranking courtesan there, she would be summoned to meet him at an ageya where they would dine and spend the night together.

The quality of the brushwork in this painting is evident in many of the details. Fine gold lines define and decorate many of the kimonos, and the overall attention to detail is remarkable. Moronobu produced many handscrolls and paintings of the customs of the Yoshiwara, but the skilled draftsmanship here suggests that the artist painted this work in response to a special commission from a wealthy patron.

Early Evening at a Yoshiwara Inn, Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese, 1618–1694), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Early Evening at a Yoshiwara Inn, Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese, 1618–1694), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan

Early Evening at a Yoshiwara Inn, Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese, 1618–1694), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Early Evening at a Yoshiwara Inn

Artist: Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese, 1618–1694)

Period: Edo period (1615–1868)

Date: ca. 1672–89

Culture: Japan

Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

Dimensions: Image: 13 × 31 3/8 in. (33 × 79.7 cm)
Overall with mounting: 50 × 36 7/8 in. (127 × 93.6 cm)

Classification: Paintings

Credit Line: Lent by Feinberg Collection

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