The Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya and her attendant, from the series "Fans of the East (Azuma ogi)"
Isoda Koryusai
c. 1777/78
Medium
Color woodblock print; bai aiban
Dimensions
45.5 × 32.8 cm (17 7/8 × 12 7/8 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
64407
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Hanaōgi was a famous courtesan of the Ōgiya brothel. She is depicted often in Japanese prints, but her appearance here is especially apt, since “Hanaōgi” translates to “floral fan” and “Ōgiya” to “house of fans.” Fans of the East was a popular series, and 23 designs by three different artists are known to have survived, all dating from the late 1770s and early 1780s.