Artwork Page for Courtesan

Details / Information for Courtesan

Courtesan

1716–35

Matsuno Chikanobu 松野 親信

(Japanese, active 1716–35)
Culture
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Measurements
Overall: 179.1 x 58.5 cm (70 1/2 x 23 1/16 in.); Overall: 177.8 x 52.7 cm (70 x 20 3/4 in.); Painting only: 91 x 35.5 cm (35 13/16 x 14 in.); Painting only: 91.8 x 39.6 cm (36 1/8 x 15 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
The Kelvin Smith Collection, given by Mrs. Kelvin Smith 1985.249
Public Domain
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Location
Not on view
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Description

A glamorous courtesan sports an outer robe decorated with large roundels featuring plant motifs including iris and bush clover. Little is known about the life and artistic training of the painter Matsuno Chikanobu, an ukiyo-e artist who painted in a style strongly reminiscent of that of the Kaigetsudō studio. Many of his known paintings are on silk, and executed with high quality pigments, indicating that his primary clientele were wealthy individuals.
A hanging scroll depicts a standing woman with a light skin tone. Facing our right, she turns back to look over her left shoulder. She wears a layered kimono of white, red, and black fabric with bold floral and geometric patterns. A blue sash trails behind her, and her dark hair is swept up with pins and a comb. Vertical Japanese calligraphy is visible on the far right.

Courtesan

1716–35

Matsuno Chikanobu

(Japanese, active 1716–35)
Japan, Edo period (1615–1868)

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