Artwork

The Courtesan Misyama of Chojiya (from the series Eight Views of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses)

The Courtesan Misyama of Chojiya (from the series Eight Views of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This print, created around 1794, is part of a series by Kitagawa Utamaro titled Eight Views of Beautiful Women of the Green Houses. It is a cityscape scene held at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts two women in traditional Japanese attire. The woman on the right, wearing a white kimono with crane and cloud patterns, looks down at the other, who is kneeling and gazing up. The contrast between their postures and gazes suggests a relationship or interaction between them.

Technique & Style

The print features intricate designs on the women's kimonos, with the white kimono displaying cranes and clouds, and the black kimono showing floral patterns. The background is rendered in a light brown hue, providing a subtle contrast to the figures.