Courtesan with Fan and Koto

late 18th century
Not on view
An elegant courtesan, her coiffure festooned with a complex array of hairpins, glances sideways while holding a round fan (uchiwa). Her pale purple kimono, overlaying a red undergarment, is decorated in the lower section with autumn flowers, bush clover (hagi), and bellflowers (kikyō). Her obi is knotted in the front, as is the wont of courtesans. Behind her is a fine-quality koto (a type of zither) and bound libretto, signals of her cultural accomplishments.

Although Eishi’s early training was in the academic style of the Kano atelier masters, he switched his allegiance to the Ukiyo-e school, specializing in paintings and prints of refined, high-ranking courtesans.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 団扇立美人図 (Uchiwa tachi bijin zu)
  • Title: Courtesan with Fan and Koto
  • Artist: Chōbunsai Eishi 鳥文斎栄之 (Japanese, 1756–1829)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: late 18th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; color on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 34 9/16 × 10 15/16 in. (87.8 × 27.8 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 68 1/8 × 15 1/4 in. (173 × 38.7 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 68 5/8 × 17 3/8 in. (174.3 × 44.1 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, 2020
  • Object Number: 2020.396.29
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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