{"product_id":"the-courtesan-hisui-of-the-fan-house-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"The Courtesan Hisui of the Fan House - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring the courtesan Hisui in a serene, half-length portrait from the Five Festivals Flower Competition series.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts the courtesan Hisui from the Ogiya, or Fan House, a prominent establishment in the Yoshiwara pleasure district of Edo. The work belongs to the series The Five Festivals Flower Competition, which associates specific courtesans with seasonal floral themes. Utamaro is known for his focus on the bijin-ga genre, which translates to pictures of beautiful women. He often employed the okubi-e, or large-head portrait style, to capture the psychological presence of his subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this composition, Hisui is shown in a half-length pose, holding a large fan decorated with a crane motif. Her expression is calm, and her posture is relaxed. The artist uses clean, fluid lines to define the contours of her face and the folds of her kimono. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted ochre, and subtle pinks to create a sense of harmony. The background is kept plain, which directs the viewer's attention entirely to the figure and the calligraphic elements of the print.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was a master of the woodblock medium, and his ability to convey texture and character through minimal means is evident here. The print includes a cartouche containing a poem, which was a common feature in ukiyo-e works of this period, linking the visual image to literary culture. The precision of the carving and the delicate application of pigment reflect the high standards of the Edo-period publishing houses. This print provides a window into the aesthetic values of late eighteenth-century Japan, where the lives of courtesans were documented with both artistic skill and social observation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/ryogoku-bridge-and-the-great-riverbank-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eRyōgoku Bridge and the Great Riverbank - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/a-boat-upon-the-waters-utagawa-kuniyoshi\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eA Boat upon the Waters - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kitagawa Utamaro","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58934714368335,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58934984376655,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58934984409423,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58934984442191,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58934984474959,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58934984507727,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58934984540495,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58934984573263,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58934984606031,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58934984638799,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58934984671567,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58934984704335,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Courtesan-Hisui-of-the-Fan-House_Poster_CompositorV1_1790709380356.jpg?v=1790709848","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-courtesan-hisui-of-the-fan-house-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}