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Courtesan Nakagawa from the Nakamanji house, New Yoshiwara in Kadomachi

Utagawa Kunisada
ca. 1830s

A vertical diptych mounted on a scroll depicting the Oiran, Nakagawa of the Nakamanji house station in the new Yoshiwara district of Kadomachi.

 

Nakagawa is dressed in layers of kimono, with the outermost robe (uchikake) decorated with children’s toys and three-dimensional tassel-like ribbons. The selection of toys includes: a dog-shaped doll called 'Inuhariko'; a hina doll of a man; painted shells from the 'Awase-gai' shell-matching game and juggling balls called 'Otedama'. The ensemble of robes is held together with the aid of a wide obi belt tied in the front. This fabric is lavishly decorated with swirling clouds and ho-o birds.


The scroll mounting repurposes textile from a brown ‘plaid’-patterned kimono featuring sparse horizontal rows of repeating horse-bit motifs, along with two fragments of luxurious multicoloured brocade. The fragment above the print depicts a row of ho-o birds amongst clouds, while the fragment below the print shows various fruits and leaves.

Additional information

It is possible that object information will be updated as new research findings are discovered. Please email kentonicollection@gmail.com if you can improve this record.

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