Isoda Koryūsai: Courtesan Reading (Sold)

Artist: Isoda Koryūsai
Title: Courtesan Reading
Series: Brocade of Unchanged Yoshiwara (Seiryô tokiwa nishiki)
Date: 1776-81

The high-ranked courtesan Nanakoshi is shown absorbed in reading by the hibachi, a small heater. She loosely wears her kimono designed with fans, ogi--namely the name of her house. In front of her a long pipe and pouch lie. With the collector’s seal of McCabe, verso.

Nanakoshi of Ôgiya with the names of kamuros Mineno and Takane (Ôgiya no uchi: Nanakoshi, Mineno Takane). For this series 11 prints of courtesans are identified. The word “tokiwa” in the title of the series can also refer to the picture book by Nishikawa Sukenobu, “Tokiwagusa” appeared in 1730 and became very popular. Nanakoshi also appears in the famous series “Models for Fashions: New Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves” (Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyô).

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: 22.2 x 15.7 cm
Literature: A.Hockley:The Prints of Isoda Koryûsai, Univ. of Washington, 2003. Text entry p.217
Signature: Koryûsai ga

SKU: KORJ01