Art Institute of Chicago

Standing Beauty in Blue Kimono

Kaigetsudo Doshu

Date

c. 1711–16

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Arts of Asia

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

Wearing an aloof—almost haughty—expression, the courtesan in this painting holds up her robes as she walks to meet a client. Kaigetsudō Doshu was a member of the Kaigetsudō (Yearning for the Moon Studio) school, which specialized in artful portraits of women that featured bold kimono designs with thick calligraphic outlines. The exaggerated patterns on the robes and their pronounced curves make the figures appear as monumental icons of beauty. Paintings and prints of the reigning courtesans of the day were sold in the studio’s shop, which was located by the entrance to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter in Edo (now Tokyo).

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