Standing Courtesan

Baiōken Eishun Japanese

Not on view

Baiōken Eishun was among the ukiyo-e artists specializing in paintings of courtesans of the pleasure quarters in the style popularized by artists of the Kaigetsudō studio. He even prefaced his signature with Yamato-e, in the same way Kaigetsudō artists did, to assert that his style of painting was in the distinguished “Japanese-style painting” associated with courtly tastes.

Here, a patron or a courtesan has inscribed a poem to add a level of sexual suggestiveness:

Though I didn’t say
I was retiring for the night
still she loosens her sash.
She reads my thoughts,
bringing tears to my eyes.
—Trans. Miyeko Murase

Standing Courtesan, Baiōken Eishun (Japanese, active early 18th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan

Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Open Access

As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes.

API

Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API.

Standing Courtesan, Baiōken Eishun (Japanese, active early 18th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan
Standing Courtesan, Baiōken Eishun (Japanese, active early 18th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan
Standing Courtesan, Baiōken Eishun (Japanese, active early 18th century), Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.