The Courtesan Sankatsu of the Minoya (Minoya Sankatsu)
Artist
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
(Japanese, 1786–1864)
Dateabout 1817
Mediumwoodblock print; ink and color on paper
DimensionsVertical ōban: 36.2 x 23.5 cm (14 1/4 x 9 1/4 in.)
ClassificationsPrints
Credit LineJohn Chandler Bancroft Collection
Terms
Object number1901.571
Label TextThis print belongs to what is believed to be one of Kunisada I’s first series of beauties, indicated by an early variant of his name in which he uses the character 五. It features a specific, high-ranking courtesan from brothels in Edo’s (modern-day Tokyo’s) “red-light” Yoshiwara district.
Interestingly, Kunisada transformed the traditional rectangular cartouche typically found on prints into a cotton hand towel known as a tenugui. It is possible that these towels were given to brothel guests as souvenirs specific to the brothel or to the individual woman with whom they spent time.On View
Not on viewCollections
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
about 1817
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
about 1817
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
about 1817
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
about 1817
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
about 1817
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
1861
Utagawa Kunisada I 歌川 国貞 (Toyokuni III 三代 豊国)
1830s