Street Scene in Yoshiwara

Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

In this Yoshiwara scene by Moronobu, the originator of ukiyo-e prints, a courtesan leans on the lattice of a teahouse window and converses with a samurai who has draped a coat over his head. This attempt to cloak his identity only serves to attract the attention of the courtesan playing the samisen and the passersby. The profile view of the girl's face, which is unusual in ukiyo-e prints, emphasizes the interest with which she watches the exchange. The focus of the print is the interaction between the inside, which is framed within the barred window of the teahouse, and the outside. Those on the inside look out, and those on the outside look in.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art