Artwork
Chinese Beauty
Chinese Beauty is an unspecified painting by the Nanga artist Yokoi Kinkoku. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created around 1806 by the Japanese painter Yokoi Kinkō, this small-scale work portrays a seated female figure against a muted, light‑brown backdrop edged with a darker brown leaf motif. The composition balances a restrained palette with a vivid red chair, lending a subtle contrast that highlights the sitter’s poised demeanor.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is dressed in a green robe trimmed in blue, paired with a pink, flower‑patterned skirt, and her hair is arranged in an updo crowned by a gold ornamental piece. The attire and coiffure evoke traditional Chinese court dress, suggesting an idealized representation of feminine grace and tranquility.
Technique & Style
Executed in ink and color on paper, the painting employs delicate brushwork to delineate the folds of fabric and the intricate leaf border. The artist’s restrained use of color, primarily earth tones punctuated by the red chair, creates a calm atmosphere while maintaining a clear, linear definition characteristic of early‑19th‑century Japanese portraiture.
History & Provenance
The work entered the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently displayed. Its attribution to Yokoi Kinkō, an artist active during the late Edo period, is based on stylistic analysis and documented dates aligning with the circa 1806 creation.
Artist & collection
Courtesan Seated on a Bench Enjoying the Evening Cool in Summer
Act VII from the series The Storehouse of Loyal Retainers As Portrayed by Famous Beauties in Twelve Leaves
Woman on Veranda
Courtesans Parodying Kanzan and Jittoku
Young Woman Kneeling by a Stand with a Ceremonial Cap (from the series The Six Immortal Poets in Elegant Modern Dress)
Courtesan
Courtesan with Fan and Koto
Komachi Washes the Book (from the series Seven Elegant Episodes from the Life of the Poetess Ono no Komachi)