A Courtesan and Her Attendants with a Revolving Shadow Lantern
A courtesan and her two young female attendants enjoy watching a type of revolving shadow lantern (mawari dōrō). A spinning wheel was attached to a stick inserted into the middle to act as the spinner. When a candle was lit and placed inside the lantern, the rising air current caused the wheel to spin, which in turn rotated the inner frame and cast a shadow on the outer layer. The revolving lantern consists of an outer frame onto which a thin layer of paper is attached, and inside is a paper cylinder with cut-out shapes of a procession of a courtesan and her entourage. A candle illuminates the cylinder as it is rotated to create optical illusion that the figures are in motion. Here the lantern projects a parading courtesan (shinzō), child attendants (kamuro), and servants (kasha). Though the print is entitled Keisei nayose (names of courtesans), the libretto is actually a playful song incorporating the names of brothel districts.
The print lacks a seal, but the distinctive figure style aligns with that of Okumura Masanobu. The courtesan’s hairstyle indicates that the print was designed in the 1710s or 1720s. This is an example of a tan-e, a type of early print that is hand-colored with an orange-red (tan) pigment as well as yellow, crimson, pale indigo, and green—popular from around 1688 to the 1710s.
The print lacks a seal, but the distinctive figure style aligns with that of Okumura Masanobu. The courtesan’s hairstyle indicates that the print was designed in the 1710s or 1720s. This is an example of a tan-e, a type of early print that is hand-colored with an orange-red (tan) pigment as well as yellow, crimson, pale indigo, and green—popular from around 1688 to the 1710s.
Artwork Details
- 伝奥村政信画 「けいせいなよせ」回り灯籠を見る遊女と禿
- Title: A Courtesan and Her Attendants with a Revolving Shadow Lantern
- Artist: Attributed to Okumura Masanobu (Japanese, 1686–1764)
- Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
- Date: ca. 1715–20
- Culture: Japan
- Medium: Woodblock print (tan-e); ink and hand applied color on two joined sheets of paper
- Dimensions: Image (Vertical ōban): 23 1/2 × 11 3/4 in. (59.7 × 29.8 cm)
- Classification: Prints
- Credit Line: Gift of Lee E. Dirks, in celebration of the Museum's 150th Anniversary, 2019
- Object Number: 2019.447.2
- Curatorial Department: Asian Art
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