Beauty of the Yoshiwara with Apprentice in Moonlight

A courtesan in an elaborate kimono sits beside a young apprentice holding a fan, with a full moon and a pair of birds in the sky above. Soft ink and muted color render the silk, with gold accents on the border and a red seal at lower right.

Look closer: A red artist's seal sits near the lower right edge of the painting.

Artist

Teisai Hokuba

Date

19th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink, color, and gold on silk

Source

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Size

1397 × 4000 px

Credit (appreciated, not required for public-domain works): The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Purchase, Friends of Asian Art Gifts, 2003