Seiryu Edo|Courtesan District of Edo
1792
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1792
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows four women in bright, patterned robes and wide-brimmed hats. Two stand tall, holding folded fans, while the third leans forward, her sleeve draped over a seated man’s shoulder. The seated figure looks up, one hand resting on a fan. The background is plain, keeping focus on the figures’ bold, swirling kimono designs. The women’s robes use dark outlines filled with intricate floral and geometric patterns, giving them a lively, almost busy look. The seated man’s simple robe contrasts with theirs, making him stand out. Check out cross-hatching to see how artists build detail with lines.
