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A work made of woodblock print; sumizuri-e, kakemono yoko-e.

A Parade of Courtesans

c. 1690

Attributed to Hishikawa Moronobu Japanese, (?)-1694

Japan

A group of courtesans parade with servants carrying umbrellas. The print appears to depict a typical scene in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters of Edo. However, a figure on the left is identified as one of the legendary Soga brothers, 12th-century heroes whose story of valor is retold in countless Kabuki plays. It is possible that this print may depict a scene from an unidentified Soga brothers drama.

Woodblock print; sumizuri-e, kakemono yoko-e

Arts of Asia