Courtesan and Her Sleepy Attendant c. 1767 - 1768

"Courtesan and Her Sleepy Attendant" (c. 1767-1768) is a woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu, a renowned artist of the Edo period in Japan. The print depicts a courtesan, dressed in elegant robes, examining a long scroll, while her attendant slumbers peacefully in the background. The use of vibrant colors and delicate lines, characteristic of Harunobu's style, evokes the refined atmosphere of a high-class brothel. This work, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies the beauty and sophistication of ukiyo-e art, which captured the fleeting pleasures of everyday life in Edo.