Courtesan and Attendant 遊女と禿図ゆうじょ　かむろず

Description

A courtesan leans in close to whisper something to her young attendant. The artist, Kaigetsudō Ando, gained immense popularity for paintings like this in the early 1700s, which he produced in large numbers in his studio.

A lavishly-attired courtesan leans in to whisper something to her young attendant. Ando won great acclaim for paintings like this, produced in large numbers at his studio around 1704–1711.

A woman twists backwards towards the girl next to her. From the way she presses her arm against the girl's shoulder and draws her face near, she appears to be whispering something in her companion's ear. The woman's elegant clothing features a stylized depiction of bamboo grass covered in snow. She is a courtesan and the girl is her attendant. While the faces, hair and limbs are drawn in meticulous fashion, the kimonos are depicted with pronounced outlines and bold colors and designs.

These are all characteristic features of works by Kaigetsudo Ando, an artist who specialized in paintings of beautiful women against plain backgrounds. Ando was active at the start of the 18th century, during the mid-Edo period. Pupils from his atelier churned out many portraits of women in this style, though portraits featuring several people together are very rare. This painting's value is also enhanced by the fact we can verify it as a work by Ando himself.

Perhaps this courtesan is whispering a message meant for a familiar client, or maybe the pose is merely drawing attention to the fact they are having a secret conversation. Whatever the reason, this composition succeeds in captivating the attention of the painting's viewers too.