Appearing Inquisitive, Behavior of a Maid of the Tenpō Era, April 1888
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According to the title, this portrait refers to the Tenpō era (1830–44), and the woman is an okoshō, a maid in the service of a samurai family. She would have been sent there to learn good manners as part of her education. Ironically, Yoshitoshi captured her peering through slatted bamboo doors as if she were spying, perhaps on members of the family she serves.
The black-on-black peony pattern of her sash (obi) was achieved through a polishing technique called shōmen-zuri, in which the block with the pattern was placed behind the paper, and then the surface was rubbed with a hard polisher, such as porcelain.
Details
- Title
- Appearing Inquisitive, Behavior of a Maid of the Tenpō Era
- Artist Life
- 1839 - 1892
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2017.106.205
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Keyes, Courage and Silence (1982), no. 503.14; Iwakiri, Yoshitoshi (2014), p. 276.
- 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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