Artwork

Sugatano of Sugata Ebisuya in the Morning, Hour of the Rabbit, from the series The Twelve Hours in the Pleasure Quarters

Sugatano of Sugata Ebisuya in the Morning, Hour of the Rabbit, from the series The Twelve Hours in the Pleasure Quarters is a print by the Romanticist artist Kikukawa Eizan. It dates from 1812 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Sugatano of Sugata Ebisuya in the Morning, Hour of the Rabbit is an 1812 print by Kikukawa Eizan, part of the series The Twelve Hours in the Pleasure Quarters, housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two women in elaborate attire, likely courtesans or geishas, engaged in a lively interaction, conveying confidence and intimacy through their poses and expressions.

Technique & Style

Eizan employed bold black outlines and flat, vibrant colors to achieve a dramatic, theatrical effect, accentuated by the women's ornate hairstyles adorned with pins and their accessories.

History & Provenance

Created in 1812, the work is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, with specific acquisition details not provided in available sources.

Context

Part of a series exploring life in the pleasure quarters, this print offers a glimpse into Edo-period (1603-1867) culture, particularly the lives of women in these quarters.

Artist & collection

Artist

Kikukawa Eizan

Kikukawa Eizan was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints. He first studied with his father, Eiji, a minor painter of the Kanō school, and subsequently with Suzuki Nanrei (1775–1844), of the Shijō…