The Courtesan Hanaōgi of the Ōgiya Brothel (Ōgiya Hanaōgi), from the series Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters as Six Floral Immortals (Seirō bijin rokkasen)
Creator Name
Cultural Context
Date
Source
About the work
Curationist Object DescriptionThis print depicts Hanaōgi, a high-ranked Japanese courtesan, or oiran>, as she sits and writes at her desk surrounded by calligraphic accoutrements. Hanaōgi’s literacy, elaborate hairstyle, and fine kimono communicate her rank. This print is from a series called “Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters as Six Floral Immortals.” Ukiyo-e is a genre of block print focused on the pleasures of Edo-era urban life. “Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters” was a common theme for albums depicting the most popular courtesans of the day. Ukiyo-e artists frequently celebrated courtesans’ literary talents. This print is a play on the Japanese and Chinese literary theme of the rokkasen, or “six poetry immortals,” who were six famous Japanese poets of the ninth century. Chōbunsai Eishi used a play on words to substitute “floral” for “poetic” in his title of this series, implying that the courtesans were both great poets and as beautiful as flowers.
Metropolitan Museum of Art Object Description
Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
Work details
"--" = no data available
= Curationist added metadata(Learn more)Title
Creator
Worktype
Cultural Context
Material
Dimensions
Technique
--
Language
Date
Provenance
Style Period
Rights
Inscription
Location
Source
Subjects
Topic
Curationist Metadata Contributors
All Works in Curationist’s archives can be reproduced and used freely. How to attribute this Work:
Chōbunsai Eishi, The Courtesan Hanaōgi of the Ōgiya Brothel (Ōgiya Hanaōgi), from the series "Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters as Six Floral Immortals (Seirō bijin rokkasen)," circa 1794 (Kansei 6). Metropolitan Museum of Art. The woodblock print depicts Hanaōgi, a high-ranked courtesan from Edo period Japan, as she sits and writes at her desk. Public Domain.
Help us improve this content!
Let our archivists know if you have something to add.
Save this work.
Start an account to add this work to your personal curated collection.
