Courtesan with a Kitten 1700 - 1733

Nishikawa Sukenobu's "Courtesan with a Kitten," painted between 1700-1733, depicts a woman in elegant robes holding a kitten, highlighting the popular subject matter of beauty and domesticity in 18th-century Japanese art. The painting's delicate brushstrokes and muted colors create a sense of intimacy and tranquility, while the inclusion of a shamisen (three-stringed musical instrument) suggests the courtesan's refined artistic talents. This piece is a testament to Sukenobu's mastery of the "ukiyo-e" style, which captured the fleeting beauty of everyday life in Edo-era Japan. The painting is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.