Seven Wise Women of the Pleasure Quarters

1784

From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art

Dominant colour

Seven Wise Women of the Pleasure Quarters is a 1784 by Katsukawa Shunshō, a Romanticism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.

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

About this work

This print shows seven women in colorful robes, standing close together in a room. Their faces are pale, their hair is black and glossy, and each holds something—a fan, a pipe, a teacup. The woman in the center isn’t just posing. She’s Hanaōgi, a famous courtesan known for her poetry. The brush in her hand and the fan with her poem tell you she’s more than a performer; she’s an artist too. These prints were like celebrity portraits of their time. If you like this, look up *subject: japan, edo period (1615–1868)* to see more of these lively, detailed scenes.

The story of this work

Overview

The courtesan standing at the center of this print holds a writing brush. She is identified by the fan in her left hand, which has a poem signed Hanaōgi, or Flower-Fan.