Okiya?

Home » Topics » Okiya?

Okiya?

Replies
4
Voices
2
Freshness
Status
Open
martinlaquer

Hi. Is this an Okiya? Geisha house? Any idea who the artist is? Thanks

  • Horst

    The artist is Kunidsada II. The print is certainly part of a multisheet composition; very likely a triptych.
    It can depict the interior of a brothel, but can also be a Genji print.
    A publisher's logo can be seen on the left bottom right next to the signature ("Kunisada hitsu") and also a date/censorship seal.
    With a better photo of this part we might be able to find some more information.

     

  • Horst

    Lucienne found the complete triptych on Wikimedia Commons (from the database of the NDL):
    https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:NDL-DC_1312626-Utagawa_Kunisada_II-%E6%96%B0%E5%B3%B6%E5%8E%9F%E6%99%A9%E8%8F%AF%E6%A5%BC%E9%81%8A%E5%A5%B3%E6%8F%83-%E6%98%8E%E6%B2%BB2-cmb.jpg

    The triptyph shows Shin-Shimabara courtesans preparing an evening at the brothel.

    Publisher is Yamashiroya Jinbei and date 02/1869.
    Title : 新島原晩華楼遊女揃; possible reading: Shin Shimabara ban hana-rō yūjo soroi,
    "Preparing of the "courtesans" from the/a "Flower Tower" [maybe it's a name of a specific brothel otherwise simply meaning "brothel"] for the evening at Shin-Shimabara"
    (or: Gathering of the "courtesans" from the/a "Flower Tower" in the evening at Shin-Shimabara)

  • martinlaquer

    Some great colours in the original and an interesting subject. Friday night out in Tokyo?

    Thanks for finding.

Go to Top