three elegantly dressed women facing R; standing woman in back wearing red with two seated women in front of her

Ladies of the Warrior Class, first half 19th century

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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.

Details
Title
Ladies of the Warrior Class
Artist Life
1759 - 1818
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2013.29.169.1
Provenance
Azabu Museum of Art ('-1998); sold at Christie's New York, Park Avenue, Sale 9044 (AN IMPORTANT COLLECTION OF JAPANESE UKIYO-E PAINTINGS), 27 October 1998, lot 119; Clark Center for Japanese Art & Culture (2001-13).
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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three elegantly dressed women facing R; standing woman in back wearing red with two seated women in front of her