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『雛形若菜の初模様　つるや内　すがたみ』|The Courtesan Sugatami of the Tsuruya Brothel, from the series “A Pat-tern Book of the Year’s First Designs, Fresh as Spring Herbs” (“Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyō”)

Isoda Koryūsai

1778

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism 18th Century

Dominant colour

『雛形若菜の初模様　つるや内　すがたみ』|The Courtesan Sugatami of the Tsuruya Brothel, from the series “A Pat-tern Book of the Year’s First Designs, Fresh as Spring Herbs” (“Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyō”) is a 1778 ink by Isoda Koryūsai, a Romanticism work, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Isoda Koryūsai
When & what style?: 1778 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows three people in bright, stylized clothes. The woman in the center wears a tall black hat and a robe covered in orange chrysanthemum patterns. She holds a fan and stands between a boy and a younger woman, both dressed in flowing robes with simple designs. The background is plain, keeping all the focus on their outfits and poses. The woman’s robe has a mix of bold shapes—hexagons and flowers—while the boy’s and younger woman’s clothes use softer lines. The print looks like it was made by hand, with careful brushstrokes and ink. Look up cross-hatching to see how artists create shading with lines.