Artwork
A Beauty
A Beauty is an unspecified painting by the Romanticist artist Fujimaro. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
The poem at the top compares mature women to cherry blossoms and young men to plum flowers—both beautiful, just in different ways.
A woman in a red kimono leans against a tree, her face half-hidden by a fan. Nearby, a young man in pale robes stands under a blossoming plum branch.
The poem at the top compares mature women to cherry blossoms and young men to plum flowers—both beautiful, just in different ways. This painting comes from Edo’s pleasure districts, where artists often celebrated both courtesans and male entertainers.
To see more work like this, look up *japan, edo period (1615–1868)*.
Overview
A Beauty Type is a ukiyo-e painting that portrays contrasting ideals of beauty in Edo's pleasure district. The scene juxtaposes a woman in a red kimono with a young man in pale robes, set against symbolic botanical elements.
Subject & Meaning
The painting contrasts mature female beauty, embodied by a woman partially hidden behind a fan, with the allure of youth, represented by a young man. These figures are symbolically linked to a blooming cherry tree and a plum tree, respectively, as explained by the accompanying poem.
Technique & Style
Executed in the ukiyo-e tradition, the painting features characteristic flat perspectives and emphasis on beauty (bijin). The use of a poem (likely from a known Edo-period collection) integrates literature with visual art, a common practice in ukiyo-e.
History & Provenance
Originating from Edo's pleasure districts during the Edo period (1615–1868), the painting reflects the district's cultural tolerance and artistic celebration of both female courtesans and male entertainers.
Context
This work is part of a broader Edo-period artistic movement that frequently depicted 'beautiful people' (bijin), including both female and male subjects, often in leisure or natural settings.
Artist & collection
