Arashi Murajiro as a Courtesan Holding a Letter

1784

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Arashi Murajiro as a Courtesan Holding a Letter is a 1784 by Katsukawa Shunkō, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Katsukawa Shunkō
When & what style?: 1784 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Cleveland Museum of Art

About this work

A woman in a long, patterned robe stands sideways, holding a letter near her chest. Her hair is styled neatly under a small hat, and she wears a loose, flowing sleeve. Behind her, a tiled wall and a garden with small plants are drawn simply. Notice how the light seems to hit her face and sleeve, making them stand out against the rest. The artist used shading to create this effect. Look up *chiaroscuro* next to see how this technique works.