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Lot Essay
The Yoshiwara brothel district, the "pleasure quarter" of Japan's capital, Edo, was periodically destroyed by fire. During the rebuilding that followed, the brothels moved to various temporary lodgings, sometimes on land owned by temples. Perhaps because of the informal atmosphere they did good business in these emergency quarters. The brothel shown here was probably in the Yamanoshuku district near Asakusa. The top of the gate of the Mimeguri Shrine is visible on the opposite bank of the Sumida River.
This scene takes place around six or seven in the morning. A bowl of water and toothbrush rest on the windowsill in the left panel. There are lanterns in the corridor. At the left courtesans see off their overnight clients, who descend a staircase. A courtesan in the center fixes her hair and chats with a seated courtesan, who puts a restraining arm on a voyeuristic manservant peeking at the women to the right. Perhaps he has been sent to pick up the satisfied client who smokes languidly inside a mosquito net, in no hurry to depart. The courtesan who entertained him is shown dressing.
For another impression in the Honolulu Academy of Arts see Howard A. Link, et al., Honoruru bijutsukan/Honolulu Academy of Arts,..., vol. 10 of Ukiyo-e shuka (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 1979), pls. 47-49; and Asano Shugo and Timothy Clark, The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro (Tokyo and London: Asahi Shimbunsha and The Trustees of the British Museum, 1995), pl. 330. Another impression is illustrated in Shibui Kiyoshi, Utamaro, vol. 13 of Ukiyo-e zuten (Tokyo: Kazama Shobo, 1964), p. 36. Other impressions are in the Collections Baur, Genève; the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Another impression was sold Sotheby's, London, Highly Important Japanese Prints, Illustrated Books, Drawings and Fan Paintings from the Henri Vever Collection: Part II, 26 March, 1975, lot 180.
This scene takes place around six or seven in the morning. A bowl of water and toothbrush rest on the windowsill in the left panel. There are lanterns in the corridor. At the left courtesans see off their overnight clients, who descend a staircase. A courtesan in the center fixes her hair and chats with a seated courtesan, who puts a restraining arm on a voyeuristic manservant peeking at the women to the right. Perhaps he has been sent to pick up the satisfied client who smokes languidly inside a mosquito net, in no hurry to depart. The courtesan who entertained him is shown dressing.
For another impression in the Honolulu Academy of Arts see Howard A. Link, et al., Honoruru bijutsukan/Honolulu Academy of Arts,..., vol. 10 of Ukiyo-e shuka (Tokyo: Shogakukan, 1979), pls. 47-49; and Asano Shugo and Timothy Clark, The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro (Tokyo and London: Asahi Shimbunsha and The Trustees of the British Museum, 1995), pl. 330. Another impression is illustrated in Shibui Kiyoshi, Utamaro, vol. 13 of Ukiyo-e zuten (Tokyo: Kazama Shobo, 1964), p. 36. Other impressions are in the Collections Baur, Genève; the Japan Ukiyo-e Museum, Matsumoto; and The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Another impression was sold Sotheby's, London, Highly Important Japanese Prints, Illustrated Books, Drawings and Fan Paintings from the Henri Vever Collection: Part II, 26 March, 1975, lot 180.