Courtesan of the Shin Yoshiwara District, Edo

 

Unidentified (Asian artist)

 

c. 1865  

color woodcut 

14 3/8 x 9 3/4" image size 

 

not stated 

cartouche with title in upper right 

National Diet Library Digital Collection, Japan: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1301822/1/3 

delicate Japanese laid 

published 

 

24870 

$200.00 

This color woodcut is one of seven in a suite of featuring courtesans of Japan's form Shin Yoshiwara red light district, known for its famous brothels. The Diet National Library in Japan includes this print in its collection (see: https://dl.ndl.go.jp/pid/1301822/1/3). There you will see that the as yet unidentified artist used nearly identical figures to portray the courtesans, printing them facing both left and right. The only real differences are found in the fabric of their kimonos and the positions of the flora surrounding them. There is no attribution listed for the suite.

A note on condition: this antique work was folded in the middle widthwise and bears a crease and small holes from the usual wear as a result. There are minimal scattered insect holes in the left 1/8 of the work. Fading is evident to the green, bright red, yellow, and purple inks, but the indigo, black, and dark red-brown are strong and the image retains a dynamic contrast as a result.