Two Courtesans
18th century
Medium
Color woodblock print
Dimensions
22.2 × 16.1 cm (8 3/4 × 6 5/16 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
13312
Art Historical Context
**Two Courtesans** by Isoda Koryusai is a captivating 18th-century color woodblock print from Japan's Edo period, measuring a intimate 22.2 × 16.1 cm. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, this work exemplifies *ukiyo-e*—"pictures of the floating worlda genre celebrating the ephemeral pleasures of urban life, including the glamorous world of courtesans in Tokyo's Yoshiwara pleasure district. Koryusai (1730–1790), a master of *bijin-ga* (images of beautiful women), specialized in elegant depictions of courtesans, blending sensuality with refined artistry. Here, the ...