A courtesan wearing a robe decorated with actors' crests

Technique: The earliest ukiyo-e prints appeared as book illustrations in black ink. By 1695, publishers were also selling single-sheet blackand- white prints. The outlines of the round crest on the arm of the woman were created by raised lines on the printing block, while the negative space (uncolored) was defined by carving away the block.

About this print: This print of an unidentified beauty is linked stylistically to Torii Kiyonobu I. It features the sweeping calligraphic outlines and bold decorative patterns characteristic of works created around 1715. The woman’s front-tied obi tell us that she is a courtesan, and we can surmise that she is a fan of Kabuki theater, as actors’ crests fill the bean-shaped reserves on her garment. Another interpretation is that the person portrayed might in fact be a male actor playing a female character in a play.