Courtesan

Catalog note / 解説

A young courtesan pauses in her promenade to gaze at something, her right sleeve lifted in feigned modesty. Such black and white prints (sumizuri-e) mark the beginning of ukiyo-e. James Michener, who donated this print to the Academy, stated: "A fair portion of the great Kaigetsudö prints are hand-colored, but, like most collectors, I much prefer those that are not, and this print, somewhat more fluid in design than I should have liked, demonstrates why color is not required." The motifs on her left sleeve such as a pine tree, a racket for Japanese badminton (hagoita), and a decoration for New Year's Day (two fern leaves with ribbons) suggest that this courtesan is wearing a special kimono…