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“Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi)

ca. 1790
Not on view
Utamaro’s portrait of Hanamurasaki, a top-class courtesan (oiran) of the Tamaya, shows her in elegant public attire with an elaborately decorated hair arrangement. She sits coyly, her hands crossed in front of her while she holds a brush in her lips, a pose that suggests she is aware of the audience watching her as she writes a secret letter.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 『青楼七小町』 「玉屋内花紫」
  • Title: “Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi)
  • Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: ca. 1790
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: Image: 14 1/2 × 9 7/8 in. (36.8 × 25.1 cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1920
  • Object Number: JP1215
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

More Artwork
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“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri) , Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan

“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

Kitagawa Utamaro
1798
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
1790
Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
1806–20
In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
In the Kitchen
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1794–95
Girl Fishers and Bathers, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
Girl Fishers and Bathers
Kitagawa Utamaro
1791

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