Who painted A Beauty with a Mirror?

A Beauty with a Mirror was painted by Okumura Masanobu in 1744.

Where can I see A Beauty with a Mirror?

A Beauty with a Mirror is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is A Beauty with a Mirror?

A Beauty with a Mirror is associated with Baroque.

Artwork

A Beauty with a Mirror

Okumura Masanobu , 1744

A Beauty with a Mirror is a print by the Baroque artist Okumura Masanobu. It dates from 1744 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1744 by the Japanese ukiyo‑e artist Okumura Masanobu, this woodblock print titled “A Beauty with a Mirror” is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The composition centers on a solitary woman, rendered in a flowing robe adorned with floral and cloud motifs, holding a small hand‑mirror.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is presented in a poised stance, her hair styled high and secured with a comb, while she gazes downward at her reflection. The calm expression and intimate act of mirror‑gazing suggest a moment of private contemplation, a common theme in Edo‑period images of courtesans and fashionable women.

Technique & Style

Masanobu employs bold, black outlines that define the garment’s contours, contrasted with delicate gray shading to suggest volume. The background is left unadorned, allowing the viewer’s attention to remain on the figure’s attire and the subtle play of light across the fabric, a technique reminiscent of early chiaroscuro effects in Japanese prints.

History & Provenance

The print has been in the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings since its acquisition, though the exact path it traveled from Edo‑Japan to the United States is not documented in public records. Its dating to the mid‑1740s places it among Masanobu’s early experiments with portraiture within the ukiyo‑e tradition.