白拍子・遊女図|Shirabyōshi Dancer and Female Servant; Courtesan and Girl Attendant

Art Historical Context

This exquisite pair of paintings by Tsukioka Settei, a mid-18th-centurykiyo-e artist from Edo period (1615–1868), captures the elegance of Japan's pleasure quarters and performing arts. Originally created as hanging scrolls and later remounted as a two folding screen, the works depict a *shirabyōshi* dancer by a female servant on one panel, and a courtesan her young girl attendant on the other.ed in ink, vibrant colors, and gold on, each image measures about 45 by 16½ inches, showcasing the refined beauty of women in traditional roles. The Edo era's booming urban culture in cities like Edo (modern Tokyo) celebrated such figures—*shirabyōshi* dancers, who performed poetic dances in male-inspired costumes tracing back to medieval times, and courtesans from the *yūjo* world of licensed pleasure districts. Settei's delicate lines and subtle shading highlight their grace, poise, and ornate kimonos, reflecting ukiyo-e's ("pictures of the floating world") focus on fleeting pleasures and feminine allure. A highlight of the Mary Griggs Burke Collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, these paintings offer a window into 18th-century Japanese aesthetics, where gold-flecked silk evoked luxury and screens served as intimate room dividers. Visitors will appreciate how Settei blends realism with idealism, immortalizing the artistry of everyday enchantment.