Courtesan in Moonlight
ca. 1825-30
The extravaganza of this courtesan’s fashion is on full display in this painting. Her multiple layers of kimono are finished with an outer robe decorated with a striking design of a lion with a branch of peony in its mouth. A bright orange oversized obi sash is loosely draped at her front, and her hairpins are equally oversized, as if to attract attention. A bare foot is revealed under the red kimono, subtle but suggestive.
Ink, color and gold pigment on silk
33 3/8 x 14 1/8 in. (84.8 x 35.9 cm)
Gift of Mary and Allan Kollar
2015.17.3
Provenance: Collection of Mary and Allan Kollar, Seattle, Washington; to Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, Washington, 2015