Pleasure Quarters
18th–19th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions
40 x 12 3/16 in. (101.6 x 30.9 cm)
Classification
Paintings
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Charles Stewart Smith Collection, Gift of Mrs. Charles Stewart Smith, Charles Stewart Smith Jr., and Howard Caswell Smith, in memory of Charles Stewart Smith, 1914
Accession Number
14.76.46
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the Edo period (1615–1868), Japanese artist Suga Mitsusada painted “Pleasure Quarters,” a hanging scroll that evokes the lively yet refined world of urban entertainment districts. Rendered in ink and color on silk, the work depicts women surrounded by floral elements, capturing a sense of elegance and momentary beauty that resonated with viewers of the time. Its modest vertical format—roughly 40 by 12 inches—makes it well suited for intimate display in a Japanese home or study. Hanging scrolls like this one were prized for their portability and seasonal adaptability; they could be rolled a...