Artwork
Courtesan with a Kitten
Courtesan with a Kitten is an unspecified painting by the Rococo painting artist Nishikawa Sukenobu. It dates from 1716 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1716 by Japanese artist Nishikawa Sukenobu, this small-scale painting is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It depicts a solitary figure seated on a patterned cushion, surrounded by modest domestic objects, and framed by a simple gold‑and‑blue border.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman dressed in vivid red robes with white embroidered detailing. She cradles a kitten in one hand while holding a brush in the other, suggesting a moment of quiet contemplation or artistic activity. Adjacent objects—a fan, a box, and a leaning stick—enhance the sense of an intimate, everyday scene.
Technique & Style
Executed in the delicate line work and flat color planes characteristic of early eighteenth‑century ukiyo‑e, the painting balances decorative patterning with restrained background treatment. The use of bright reds and subtle gold accents highlights the figure against the muted border, while the fine brushwork conveys texture in the embroidery and the kitten’s fur.
History & Provenance
Nishikawa Sukenobu, known for his genre scenes of Edo‑period life, produced this work during a prolific period of his career. The painting entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains on display as an example of domestic genre painting from the Edo era.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
