Minneapolis Institute of Art

Courtesan on parade, with two kamuro and two shinzo

Suzuki HarunobuLinkedCulture matchlcp-5922b737250c

Date: c. 1766
Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper
Department: Asian Art
Institution: Minneapolis Institute of Art
Object ID: 8181

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record

Within the rarefied world of the Yoshiwara, Edo’s licensed pleasure quarter, the most celebrated prostitutes were beyond the reach of all but the wealthiest patrons. Nevertheless, ordinary visitors could view the reigning beauties during their frequent promenades. When venturing into public, a high-ranking prostitute ( oiran ) was accompanied by a retinue of attendants, including one or two kamuro (female apprentices), a wakaimono (male servant), and one or two shinzō (lower-ranking prostitutes). The somewhat static quality of this print may be Harunobu’s attempt to convey the slow, stylized “figure-eight” gait of the oiran . Such a spectacle, moving slowly through the streets and attracting throngs of onlookers, was an effective means of advertising the great beauties of the Yoshiwara. Japan, Asia

View at Minneapolis Institute of Art ↗

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.

Get printable QR codes

Open QR codes for this object page and the museum record. They stay collapsed until needed.

Open this page

See at Minneapolis Institute of Art