DATA

Artist:

Katsushika Hokusai

Historical era:

Edo (19th century)

Material:

printed on silk

Medium:

hanging scroll

Theme:

High Resolution Facsimile of Japanese Art Abroad

Size:

H110.4 × W41.8 cm

Recipient:

Sumida Ward

depository:

The Sumida Hokusai MuseumMAP

[Original]

Current owner:

The Freer Gallery of Art of the Smithsonian Institution

Material:

ink, color on silk

DESCRIPTION

This is a picture of an oiran (a geisha courtesan) dressed glamorously in a gorgeous kimono and hair ornaments, out walking in her district to go around making New Year greetings, while holding the hem of her kimono. In the Yoshiwara district of Edo (today's Tokyo), which was a red light district authorized by the Tokugawa Shogunate, there was a custom called shikise bi, where on the first and second days of the New Year each brothel presented a short-sleeved kimono to each of its courtesans according to their respective grades. Tradition has it that they would wear them and go around to tea houses and other facilities to give New Year greetings. The way they would walk on such days was called hachi monji (“figure of eight”). As the picture indicates, oiran courtesans would raise their wooden geta sandals high and step forward slowly as if to draw an arc by moving the tips of their feet around. From the signature “Zen Hokusai Taito” applied to it, we know that Hokusai produced this picture when he was in his fifties.