Women in the Demimonde by Yamaguchi Soken

Women in the Demimonde c. 19th century

hanging-scroll, ink, color-on-paper

green and blue tone

caricature

green tone

teenage art

japan

hanging-scroll

ink

color-on-paper

turquoise styling

muted green

teen art

cartoon style

green and neutral

green and blue

"Women in the Demimonde" is a captivating 19th-century painting by the renowned Japanese artist Yamaguchi Soken (1759-1818). The artwork, currently housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, depicts three elegantly dressed women, likely courtesans or geishas, engaged in a leisurely moment. The composition features intricate details of traditional Japanese clothing, hairstyles, and accessories, showcasing Soken's meticulous brushwork and keen observation of daily life. The painting offers a glimpse into the world of Edo-period Japan, where courtesans played a significant role in society, and their beauty and refinement were celebrated in artistic depictions.

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minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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In the Edo period, the material and design of kimono were strictly regulated by the government along class lines, such that class and occupation were identifiable by costumes and hairstyles. Here (from left to right) are ladies of the warrior class, wives of merchants, young maidens, working girls, and women in the demimonde. Soken’s extraordinary brush control and use of pigments can be seen in the delicate hairlines and the texture of complexions and make-up. The son of a kimono merchant, he depicted magnificent kimono with delicate folds suggesting the body under the fabric.