Courtesan Reading a Letter
Ishikawa Toyonobu
Description
Technically, this print was made in the same way as the monochrome print by Kaigetsudô Dohan of circa 1714 (1955/1.128); both were printed from a single block, with black ink. The contrast between the two works shows how the printing process, artistic style, and women’s fashion had changed in thirty years. By the 1740s, wood blocks were carved with greater detail and delicacy of line, and we can see the impact of Nishikawa Sukenobu’s style in the way the subject is presented as self-absorbed, in a private moment. Kimono designs have evolved from bold overall motifs to a busy, patchwork-like combination of small patterns. The most striking change, of course, is the addition of color, in hand-applied vegetable pigments of pink and yellow; here the colors are still quite fresh. The tasteful furnishings in the room where the courtesan stands further emphasize an overall effect of sumptuous luxury.
M. Graybill
"Courtesans, Cross-Dressers, and the Girl Next Door Images of the Feminine in Japanese Popular Prints"
3/9 - 9/1/02
Subject Matter:
The label copy details most of the subject matter.
Ishikawa Toyonobu was known for his Bijin-ga prints and some sources say that he could have gone by an alternative name of Nishimura Shigenobu.
Physical Description:
This colorful print depicts a woman reading a letter in her hands. She faces the left and cranes her neck down to read the paper. She stands in a room with sliding doors and a hanging scroll with imagery of mountains and water is hung in the back. Her ornate kimono consists mainly of the color yellow. There are two lines of vertical inscription on the left bottom corner that are followed by two seals.
Usage Rights:
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