Courtesans of Shin Kanaya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami)," vol. 2
1776
Medium
Color woodblock print; double-page illustration cut from a book
Dimensions
22.6 × 30.2 cm (8 7/8 × 11 7/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
32222
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Step into the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan *Courtesans of Shin Kan*, a captivating double-page color woodblock print by Kitao Shigemasa from 1776. Extracted from volume 2 of the illustrated *Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Qu (Seiro bijin awase sugata kag)*, this artwork celebrates the glamorous courtesans of Yoshiwara, Tokyo's famed pleasure district. Shigemasa, a master of the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), captures the fleeting pleasures of urban life, where high-ranking *oiran* (courtesans) embodied idealized beauty, fashion, and sophistication amid the era's booming merchant culture. Printed on a modest 22.6 × 30.2 cm sheet, this *ehon* (picture-book) illustration showcases the technical brilliance of woodblock printing. Artisans carved intricate designs into wooden blocks, layering vibrant hues through multiple impressions—a labor-intensive process that made such art accessible to everyday viewers. Shigemasa's delicate lines and subtle shading highlight flowing kimonos, elegant poses, and expressive faces, evoking the sensuality and transience of the "floating world." Culturally, these prints were more than decoration; they were fashion guides and social commentaries, immortalizing the courtesans' allure during Japan's isolated Tokugawa era. Today, housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, it offers a window into 18th-century Japan's playful yet poignant pursuit of beauty.
About the Artist
Kitao Shigemasa · 1739–1820
Kitao Shigemasa (1739–1820), born in the bustling Nihonbashi district of Edo (modern Tokyo), emerged as a pivotal figure in ukiyo-e woodblock printing during Japan's Edo period. The eldest son of the bookseller Suharaya Mohei—from a lineage of publishers—Shigemasa, originally named Kitabatake Tarōkichi, was immersed in the world of printing from youth. Largely self-taught, he later studied under t...