Artwork
Two Beauties
Two Beauties is an unspecified painting by the Romanticist artist Kitao Shigemasa. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Two Beauties is a painting by Kitao Shigemasa, a versatile artist who worked in multiple mediums, including painting, printmaking, and poetry.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two women in traditional Japanese attire, standing together, dressed in elaborate robes with large sleeves, likely representing courtesans or high-ranking women of the time.
Technique & Style
The artist employed bold, opaque colors to render the women's robes, a characteristic style evident in his other works, including prints and poetry.
Context
The format of the painting, a hanging scroll or 'pillar painting,' suggests it was designed to be displayed on a pillar in a traditional Japanese home.
Artist & collection
Artist
Kitao Shigemasa (北尾 重政; 1739 – 8 March 1820) was a Japanese ukiyo-e artist from Edo.
