Who painted Young Woman with a Book?

Young Woman with a Book was painted by Miyagawa Shunsui in 1750.

Where can I see Young Woman with a Book?

Young Woman with a Book is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Young Woman with a Book?

Young Woman with a Book is associated with Rococo painting.

Can I buy a print of Young Woman with a Book?

Museum-quality prints of Young Woman with a Book are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Young Woman with a Book

Miyagawa Shunsui , 1750

Young Woman with a Book is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Miyagawa Shunsui. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

This painting, titled Young Woman with a Book, was created by Miyagawa Shunsui around 1750. It portrays a lone female figure seated, engaged with a book. The artwork is part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into Japanese artistic practices of the mid-18th century.

Subject & Meaning

She wears a dark, flowing robe adorned with vibrant red and gold accents, her hair carefully arranged beneath a black headpiece.

The composition centers on a young woman, posed on a low platform. She wears a dark, flowing robe adorned with vibrant red and gold accents, her hair carefully arranged beneath a black headpiece. Her gaze is directed downward towards a simple white book, which she holds gently in her lap. The book's pale color creates a visual contrast against her dark attire, drawing attention to her quiet contemplation or study.

Technique & Style

The artist employs a focused approach, rendering the figure with detailed attention while maintaining a minimalist background. The woman's dark robe features sleeves designed to suggest movement, almost resembling wings. This dynamic element contrasts with the otherwise stark setting, which consists of a plain tan field framed by narrow green and gold borders at the top and bottom. The simplicity of the composition emphasizes the subject herself.

History & Provenance

This painting, Young Woman with a Book, dates to approximately 1750 and is attributed to the artist Miyagawa Shunsui. While specific details of its early history remain unstated, the work has since entered the permanent collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its presence there contributes to the institution's representation of 18th-century Japanese art.

Own this work as a print

Artist & collection

Artist

Miyagawa Shunsui

Miyagawa Shunsui (宮川春水; fl. c. 1740s–1760s) was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the ukiyo-e style. He is sometimes known as Katsukawa Shunsui, having taught Katsukawa Shunshō and founded the Katsukawa school…