Who painted Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack?

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack was painted by Kikukawa Eizan in 1827.

Where can I see Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack?

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack?

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack?

Museum-quality prints of Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack

Kikukawa Eizan , 1827

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack is a print by the Romanticist artist Kikukawa Eizan. It dates from 1827 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1943.36
Credit line: Gift of Mrs. Ralph King

About this work

Overview

Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack, created in 1827 by Japanese artist Kikukawa Eizan, is a woodblock print housed in The Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a courtesan in a vibrant green, pink-flowered kimono, accompanied by symbols of elegance: a fan, a rack of folded robes, and a backdrop featuring a scroll with autumnal imagery. These elements convey a sense of refined, private luxury.

Technique & Style

Eizan’s composition balances vibrant color (notably the kimono’s pink flowers) with restrained, elegant lines, characteristic of Edo-period ukiyo-e prints. The courtesan’s attire and hairstyle (high, secured with a black comb) are meticulously detailed.

History & Provenance

Produced in 1827, this work is part of Eizan’s oeuvre within the late Edo period’s ukiyo-e tradition. Its current location is The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Context

This print reflects the ukiyo-e genre’s focus on capturing moments of beauty in everyday life, particularly among the elite and courtesan classes of 19th-century Japan.

Legacy

As part of the ukiyo-e collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art, Courtesan Beside Kimono Rack contributes to the global appreciation of Japanese woodblock printing’s artistic and cultural significance.

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Artist & collection

Artist

Kikukawa Eizan

Kikukawa Eizan was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints. He first studied with his father, Eiji, a minor painter of the Kanō school, and subsequently with Suzuki Nanrei (1775–1844), of the Shijō school.…