青楼美人 六花撰 岡本屋内 重岡|A Courtesan with Morning-glories on the Background
1723
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1723
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
青楼美人 六花撰 岡本屋内 重岡|A Courtesan with Morning-glories on the Background is a 1723 ink by Utamaro II, a Baroque work, depicting Flower, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a woman sitting sideways, dressed in a bright green and black robe with gold patterns. Her hair is styled high with a few strands loose, and she’s holding a fan. Behind her, green leaves and white flowers climb up the paper’s edge. The artist packed in lots of tiny details—like the dots and lines on her robe—to make the fabric look rich. The flowers behind her are morning-glories, a common theme in Japanese prints. Look up flower next to see how artists used them in different cultures.