Description
A woman in a black kimono occupies the center of Katsukawa Shunshō’s hanging scroll, making a single human presence the focus of the painting. The tall standing woman wears a dark kimono with a cream inner sleeve and front drape against the quiet silk. The pale folds make a delicate counterpoint to the garment’s dark mass, giving the figure a composed presence within the surrounding open space.
Dated to 1783–89, the work was painted in ink, color and gold on silk. The combination of materials distinguishes it from the artist’s printed actor images, giving the figure a place within the more intimate world of painting. Shunshō keeps the subject individual while leaving the surrounding narrative open. The image invites sustained attention to a person whose represented presence matters beyond any simple label of occupation or role.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Katsukawa Shunshō collection.
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