Wisteria Maiden c. 18th century
tsukiokasettei
minneapolisinstituteofart
color-on-silk, hanging-scroll, ink
abstract painting
water colours
color-on-silk
japan
possibly oil pastel
handmade artwork painting
hanging-scroll
ink
fluid art
acrylic on canvas
painting painterly
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
watercolor
calligraphy
"Wisteria Maiden" is a hanging scroll painting by the renowned Japanese artist Tsukioka Settei, created in the 18th century. The artwork depicts a young woman in traditional Japanese clothing, standing gracefully beneath a cascade of wisteria blossoms. The painting exemplifies the exquisite detail and delicate brushwork characteristic of Settei's style, capturing the fleeting beauty of nature and the elegance of Japanese courtly life. This work showcases the "Bijinga" (beautiful woman) genre, a popular subject matter in Edo-period Japanese art.
Comments
The Wisteria Maiden was a favorite subject of Ōtsue, folk paintings made in the town of Ōtsu. The paintings were believed to have auspicious properties; those hoping for a good match in marriage might buy a picture of the Maiden. The character later appeared in kabuki theater and was so popular that an entire play was eventually written around her. This classical depiction shows the Maiden as a beautiful young woman, or bijin, dancing with a wisteria branch over her shoulder. Settei, an Osaka artist, was famous for his delicately painted bijin and erotic imagery. The calligraphic inscription, by the Osaka kyōka poet Senkatei Karitsu (1748–1789), indicates that Settei painted the beauty in the spirit of Matabei’s brush, a reference to the legendary founder of Ōtsue and ukiyo-e.
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