Courtesan

69 works by 13 artists

69 works featuring “Courtesan” by 13 artists, from the 16th to the 20th century, held in 16 museums.

Laïs of Corinth, Hans Holbein le Jeune

Laïs of Corinth, 1526.

Laïs Corinthiaca (museum title)

Hans Holbein le Jeune (Swiss), mixed media on limewood panel

Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland

Red, Utagawa Kunisada

Red, c. 1847–1852.

Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese), color woodblock print

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, United States

Yatsuhashi of the Naka-Manjiya, kamuro Wakaba and Yayoi, Utagawa Kunisada

Yatsuhashi of the Naka-Manjiya, kamuro Wakaba and Yayoi, c. 1831.

Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese), color woodblock print

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, United States

A Courtesan, Jens Juel

A Courtesan, 1788.

En kurtisane (museum title)

Jens Juel (Danish), oil on copper

Statens Museum for Kunst, Denmark

An Ill-Matched Pair, Lucas Cranach l'Ancien

An Ill-Matched Pair, c. 1530.

Lucas Cranach l'Ancien (German), oil on canvas

Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology of Besançon, France

De zes Juwelen rivieren, Kitagawa Utamaro

De zes Juwelen rivieren, 1795–1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi), Kitagawa Utamaro

"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi), c. 1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

“Hanaōgi of the Gomeirō,” from the series Comparing the Charms of Beauties (Bijin kiryō kurabe: Gomeirō Hanaōgi), Kitagawa Utamaro

“Hanaōgi of the Gomeirō,” from the series Comparing the Charms of Beauties (Bijin kiryō kurabe: Gomeirō Hanaōgi), c. 1794–1795.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

Courtesan Konosumi, Kitagawa Utamaro

Courtesan Konosumi, 1793–1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art, United States

Hōraisen of the Ōgiya, with Tsubaki and Shirabe, Kitagawa Utamaro

Hōraisen of the Ōgiya, with Tsubaki and Shirabe, 18th century.

扇屋内蓬莱仙、つはき、しらへ (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

The Courtesans Hanaōgi and Takigawa of the Ōgiya House, Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesans Hanaōgi and Takigawa of the Ōgiya House, c. 1805.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art, United States

Courtesan Hitomoto of the Daimonjiya, Kitagawa Utamaro

Courtesan Hitomoto of the Daimonjiya, c. 1801–1802.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art, United States

"Komurasaki of the Tamaya" from the Series "Courtesans for the Six Poetic Sages", Kitagawa Utamaro

"Komurasaki of the Tamaya" from the Series "Courtesans for the Six Poetic Sages", 19th century.

遊女見立六歌仙・玉屋小紫喜撰法師 (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

The Courtesan Yosooi of the Matsubaya, Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesan Yosooi of the Matsubaya, c. 1799.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Hanaōgi of Ōgiya from the series Picture Puzzles, Kitagawa Utamaro

Hanaōgi of Ōgiya from the series Picture Puzzles, c. 1797.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Cleveland Museum of Art, United States

De zes Tama rivieren, Kitagawa Utamaro

De zes Tama rivieren, 1795–1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

Hour of the Dragon (Tatsu no koku), from the series "Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Dragon (Tatsu no koku), from the series "Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)", c. 1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Akashi of the Tamaya, from the series Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara (Seiro nana Komachi) (Tamaya uchi Akashi, Uraji, Shimano), Kitagawa Utamaro

Akashi of the Tamaya, from the series Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara (Seiro nana Komachi) (Tamaya uchi Akashi, Uraji, Shimano), c. 1794–1795.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Three Beauties of Yoshiwara (Seiro san bijin), Kitagawa Utamaro

Three Beauties of Yoshiwara (Seiro san bijin), 1793.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, sheet of a pentaptych, Kitagawa Utamaro

Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, sheet of a pentaptych, 18th century.

松葉屋内喜瀬川 (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

The Courtesan Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya, from the series "Courtesans of the Five Festivals (Yukun gosekku)", Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesan Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya, from the series "Courtesans of the Five Festivals (Yukun gosekku)", c. 1805.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

The Courtesan Taume, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi

The Courtesan Taume, 19th century.

Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese), color woodblock print

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, United States

Toto, Ryogoku, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei), Utagawa Hiroshige

Toto, Ryogoku, from the series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji (Fugaku sanjūrokkei), 1858.

Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

Night View of Matsuchiyama and San'ya Canal, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, Utagawa Hiroshige

Night View of Matsuchiyama and San'ya Canal, from the series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, 1857.

Night View of Matsuchiyama and San'ya Canal (museum title)

Utagawa Hiroshige (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Minneapolis Institute of Art, United States

The Courtesans Somenosuke and Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "A Mirror of Courtesans of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro yukun awase kagami)", Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesans Somenosuke and Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "A Mirror of Courtesans of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro yukun awase kagami)", c. 1797.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Tsuruya uchi Shinowara, Kitagawa Utamaro

Tsuruya uchi Shinowara, 1795–1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

Hour of the Rat [12pm] (Ne no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Rat [12pm] (Ne no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)", c. 1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Courtesan with Koto, Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Courtesan with Koto, c. 1830–1835.

Courtisane met koto (museum title)

Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

“Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi), Kitagawa Utamaro

“Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi), c. 1790.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

"Shirai Gonpachi and Miuraya Komurasaki" from the Series "Competition of Devotees to Love", Kitagawa Utamaro

"Shirai Gonpachi and Miuraya Komurasaki" from the Series "Competition of Devotees to Love", 18th century.

實竸色乃美名家見・三浦屋小紫白井権八 (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants Tamamo and Mitsumo, Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants Tamamo and Mitsumo, c. 1803.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Tsukioka of the Hyogoya (Hyogoya uchi tsukioka), from the series "Seiro bijin meika awase", Kitagawa Utamaro

Tsukioka of the Hyogoya (Hyogoya uchi tsukioka), from the series "Seiro bijin meika awase", c. 1801.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

The Seventh Hour of the Night, Kitagawa Utamaro

The Seventh Hour of the Night, c. 1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

Takigawa of the Ōgiya from the series A Selection of Eastern Beauties, Kitagawa Utamaro

Takigawa of the Ōgiya from the series A Selection of Eastern Beauties, c. 1798.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Cleveland Museum of Art, United States

Hanaogi of the Ogiya, from the series "Renowned Beauties Likened to the Six Immortal Poets (Komei bijin rokkasen)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Hanaogi of the Ogiya, from the series "Renowned Beauties Likened to the Six Immortal Poets (Komei bijin rokkasen)", c. 1795–1796.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

The Oiran Hanaogi of Ogiya, from the series “Six Jewel Rivers” (Mutamagawa), Kitagawa Utamaro

The Oiran Hanaogi of Ogiya, from the series “Six Jewel Rivers” (Mutamagawa), c. 1795–1796.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

"Hanamurasaki, Sekiya, and Teriha of Tamaya" from the Series "Lineup of Contemporary Popular Beauties", Kitagawa Utamaro

"Hanamurasaki, Sekiya, and Teriha of Tamaya" from the Series "Lineup of Contemporary Popular Beauties", 1794.

當時全盛美人揃・玉屋内花紫、せきや、てりは (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

Hinazuru of the Chojiya, Whose Attendants Are Tsuruji and Tsuruno (Chojiya uchi Hinazuru, Tsuruji, Tsuruno), from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin-zoroe)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Hinazuru of the Chojiya, Whose Attendants Are Tsuruji and Tsuruno (Chojiya uchi Hinazuru, Tsuruji, Tsuruno), from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin-zoroe)", 1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

“The Courtesan Hanazuma Reading a Letter,” from the series Beauties Compared to Flowers (Bijin hana awase), Kitagawa Utamaro

“The Courtesan Hanazuma Reading a Letter,” from the series Beauties Compared to Flowers (Bijin hana awase), 1790s.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Metropolitan Museum of Art, United States

Competition of Actual Devotees to Love: Agemaki and Sukeroku, Kitagawa Utamaro

Competition of Actual Devotees to Love: Agemaki and Sukeroku, 18th century.

實竸色乃美名家見・三浦屋總角、万屋助六 (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

Yosooi of the Matsubaya, from the series Selections from Six Houses in Yoshiwara (Seiro rokkasen) (Matsubaya Yosooi), Kitagawa Utamaro

Yosooi of the Matsubaya, from the series Selections from Six Houses in Yoshiwara (Seiro rokkasen) (Matsubaya Yosooi), c. 1801.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Jan Milíč of Kroměříž, Alphonse Mucha

Jan Milíč of Kroměříž, 1916.

Milíč z Kroměříže (museum title)

Alphonse Mucha, oil and tempera on canvas

Prague City Gallery, Czechia

The Courtesans Kasugano and Utahama of Tamaya, from Courtesans of the Pleasure Quarters in Double Mirrors, Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesans Kasugano and Utahama of Tamaya, from Courtesans of the Pleasure Quarters in Double Mirrors, c. 1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Cleveland Museum of Art, United States

Hour of the Tiger [4 am], Courtesan (Tora no koku, keisei), from the series "Customs of Beauties Around the Clock (Fuzoku bijin tokei)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Tiger [4 am], Courtesan (Tora no koku, keisei), from the series "Customs of Beauties Around the Clock (Fuzoku bijin tokei)", c. 1798–1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

Daimonjiya uchi Hitomoto, Kitagawa Utamaro

Daimonjiya uchi Hitomoto, c. 1795–1800.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Rijksmuseum, Netherlands

Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "Comparing the Charms of Five Beauties (Gonin bijin aikyo kurabe)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "Comparing the Charms of Five Beauties (Gonin bijin aikyo kurabe)", c. 1795–1796.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

"Komurasaki of the Tamaya with the Attendants Kochō and Haruji" from the Series "Collection of Contemporary Popular Beauties", Kitagawa Utamaro

"Komurasaki of the Tamaya with the Attendants Kochō and Haruji" from the Series "Collection of Contemporary Popular Beauties", 1794.

當時全盛美人揃・玉屋内小紫、こてふ、はる次 (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan

Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin zoroe)", Kitagawa Utamaro

Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin zoroe)", c. 1794.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Art Institute of Chicago, United States

The Courtesan Tsukioka of Hyogoya Rolling a Letter (from the series A Selection of Six Authors in the Green Houses), Kitagawa Utamaro

The Courtesan Tsukioka of Hyogoya Rolling a Letter (from the series A Selection of Six Authors in the Green Houses), 1790s.

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Cleveland Museum of Art, United States

“High-Ranked Courtesan” from the Series "Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter", Kitagawa Utamaro

“High-Ranked Courtesan” from the Series "Five Shades of Ink in the Northern Quarter", 18th century.

北國五色墨・おいらん (museum title)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese), colour woodcut on paper

Tokyo National Museum, Japan