High-Ranking Courtesans of the Three Capitals - A Set of Three (Santo tayu sanpukutsui) by Torii Kiyomasu II

High-Ranking Courtesans of the Three Capitals - A Set of Three (Santo tayu sanpukutsui) c. 1740

print

aged paper

toned paper

muted colour palette

print

asian-art

sketch book

japan

personal sketchbook

sketchbook drawing

watercolour illustration

storyboard and sketchbook work

sketchbook art

watercolor

"High-Ranking Courtesans of the Three Capitals - A Set of Three (Santo tayu sanpukutsui)" is a woodblock print by Torii Kiyomasu II, created around 1740. This triptych, now housed in The Art Institute of Chicago, depicts three prominent courtesans, each in an elegant kimono with rich colors and intricate patterns. The courtesans stand before decorated shoji screens, their presence emphasized by the vibrant hues and detailed background scenery. This work showcases the aesthetic sophistication of Edo-period Japanese art, capturing the beauty and allure of high-ranking courtesans in a visually striking composition.