Artwork
Chinese Beauty (Yang Guifei)
Chinese Beauty (Yang Guifei) is an unspecified painting by the Ukiyo-e artist Katsukawa Shunshō. It is held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1796 by the Edo‑period artist Katsukawa Shunshō, this hanging scroll depicts a solitary female figure on a balcony. The work is part of the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and is titled Chinese Beauty (Yang Guifei), referencing the famed Tang‑dynasty consort.
Subject & Meaning
The central figure is a woman in a beige kimono with a red obi, her black hair styled in a traditional fashion. She stands with her hands clasped, gazing downward, conveying a quiet introspection that aligns with the ideal of refined femininity in late‑18th‑century Japanese portraiture.
Technique & Style
Shunshō employs delicate brushwork to render the silk texture of the kimono and the subtle gradations of the background. The balcony’s red railing is highlighted with gold accents, while the foliage behind the figure is suggested with loose, green‑toned strokes, creating depth through tonal contrast.
History & Provenance
Since its creation, the painting has remained in private hands before entering the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection. Its accession reflects the museum’s broader effort to represent Japanese ukiyo‑e works from the late Edo period.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsukawa Shunshō spent his life in Edo (now Tokyo), where the city’s teahouses and theaters buzzed with energy.
