Kureha of Gakuiseya, from Selection of Beauties from the Pleasure Quarters
1770
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1770
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
This painting shows a courtesan named Kureha reading a letter. She's one of 166 beautiful courtesans in a series of picture books. The books have autumn poems and images of courtesans from the Edo pleasure district. Kureha's house crest is on her robe's sleeve. You can learn more about Japanese art by looking up the work of artist Suzuki Harunobu.