Eastern Art Online, Yousef Jameel Centre for Islamic and Asian Art

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The Courtesan Wakaume of the Tamaya

Glossary (2)

nishiki-e, vegetable pigments

  • nishiki-e

    Nishiki-e literally means 'brocade pictures' and refers to multi-coloured woodblock prints.

  • vegetable pigments

    Vegetable pigments were used to create coloured dyes for Japanese prints, paintings, and textiles. These pigments often faded over time due to the chemical reactions they underwent.

Location

    • currently in research collection

Objects are sometimes moved to a different location. Our object location data is usually updated on a monthly basis. Contact the Jameel Study Centre if you are planning to visit the museum to see a particular object on display, or would like to arrange an appointment to see an object in our reserve collections.

 

Publications online

  • Beauties of the Four Seasons by Mitsuko Watanabe

    Beauties of the Four Seasons

    The Courtesan Wakaume of the House of Tama-ya with a shinzō behind her, looks down at the other shinzō sitting beside a tobacco cabinet. According to Yoshiwara Saiken (the Guide Book of Yoshiwara), Wakaume belonged to the House of Tama-ya from 1788 to 1798. Her soft and graceful face was much admired and was often depicted by Ukiyo-e artists. The inscription mentions the 'haru no wakaume' ('young plum tree of the spring'), an obvious pun, and 'uguisu' ('Japanese bush warbler') which both imply the coming of spring.

    The print retains much of its original colouring.
  • Beauties of the Four Seasons by Mitsuko Watanabe

    Beauties of the Four Seasons

    The Courtesan Wakaume of the House of Tama-ya with a shinzō behind her, looks down at the other shinzō sitting beside a tobacco cabinet. According to Yoshiwara Saiken (the Guide Book of Yoshiwara), Wakaume belonged to the House of Tama-ya from 1788 to 1798. Her soft and graceful face was much admired and was often depicted by Ukiyo-e artists. The inscription mentions the 'haru no wakaume' ('young plum tree of the spring'), an obvious pun, and 'uguisu' ('Japanese bush warbler') which both imply the coming of spring.

    The print retains much of its original colouring.

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