Where can I see Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons?

Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons?

Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons is associated with Ukiyo-e.

Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons by Miyagawa Issho (1774)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The painting depicts a specific scene set in the Shimabara pleasure district, featuring women identified as courtesans engaged in an exorcism ritual.

The painting depicts a specific scene set in the Shimabara pleasure district, featuring women identified as courtesans engaged in an exorcism ritual. The composition explicitly portrays these female figures confronting and driving away demons. This imagery combines the social reality of the licensed quarter with supernatural elements, illustrating a narrative where the courtesans act as agents of spiritual cleansing against malevolent forces. The work represents a unique intersection of human drama and folkloric belief within the ukiyo-e tradition.

Technique & Style

Created in 1774, Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons is classified as a painting by the artist Miyagawa Issho. The work originates from Japan and depicts figures identified as demons and women. As a painting, the piece utilizes traditional pictorial methods appropriate to the medium, though specific details regarding the exact pigments, support material, or current physical condition are not provided in the available records. The artwork is held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons was created by Miyagawa Issho in 1774, as recorded in both the internal catalog and the Wikidata entry for the work. The painting was produced in Japan during that year. It is now held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located.

The sources do not provide further details on an earlier ownership chain, a specific commissioner, or intermediate custodians before the work entered the museum's holdings.

Shimabara Courtesans Exorcising Demons belongs to the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. The painting, attributed to Miyagawa Issho and dated 1774, is listed among the museum's holdings but the specific inventory or accession number is not disclosed in the available documentation. No exhibition record is cited in the sources examined.

The work is classified as a painting and was created in Japan. Its presence is noted in the museum's collection records, though detailed provenance beyond the creator and date is not provided.

Context

Miyagawa Issho painted Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons in 1774, a work classified simply as a painting and housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition shows a demon alongside a woman, reflecting themes of exorcism and courtesan culture in Edo‑era Japan. Its creation in Japan and inclusion in a major museum collection underscore its significance within the artist’s output and the broader trajectory of Japanese visual culture during the late 18th century.

Overview

Miyagawa Isshō’s Shimabara Courtesans Exorcizing Demons, created in 1774, is a painting that exemplifies the ukiyo-e genre. This work by the Japanese artist captures a moment involving three women and a small demonic figure. It reflects the common ukiyo-e interest in both the daily lives of urban figures and elements of the supernatural, presenting a scene that combines human interaction with an otherworldly presence.

The Salt Maidens, Murasame with Yukihira's Hat, Chôbunsai Eishi

Artist & collection

Artist

Miyagawa Issho

Miyagawa Isshō (宮川一笑, 1689 – 20 January 1780) was a Japanese painter in the ukiyo-e style, primarily depicting kabuki actors, geisha, sumo wrestlers, and other elements of everyday urban culture.