Standing Beauty 1800 - 1868

Kaigetsudō Dohan, active in the early 18th century, created this image of a courtesan with ink and color on paper. Look closely, and you’ll see the quality of the materials themselves is paramount. Notice the flat, opaque planes of pigment. These are applied in bold outlines with very little shading. The simple but carefully placed lines define the figure and the flowing robes. A few strokes depict the facial features, creating an idealized image of beauty. This aesthetic reflects the tastes of the merchant class, who supported the ukiyo-e art movement. The directness and simplicity of the printing process, and the easily transportable nature of the works, speak to a popular form of art. The image highlights a moment in the emergence of a consumer society, with demand for images of celebrities and fashionable commodities. Appreciating how artworks like this one were made, and for whom, helps us to look beyond traditional art historical categories, and see them in a broader cultural context.