Courtesan Watching Her Attendants Playing with a Ball c. 1765 - 1770

This woodblock print, “Courtesan Watching Her Attendants Playing with a Ball,” showcases the work of renowned Japanese artist Suzuki Harunobu. Created between 1765 and 1770, the artwork depicts a courtesan, likely of high rank, observing her attendants playfully tossing a ball. The scene unfolds in an elegant interior setting with a blossoming plum tree visible through a window, symbolizing spring. The print, now housed in the Art Institute of Chicago, exemplifies the vibrant colors and refined details characteristic of Harunobu’s signature style, known as *ukiyo-e* (pictures of the floating world).