Existing comment:
Portrait of a Courtesan Walking
Dressed in brilliantly decorated, billowing robes, a courtesan struts forward, lifting her skirt to expose her lacquered platform shoe (geta). The energetic, mannered contour lines in this painting are characteristic of Hokusai's work during the decade after 1810, when he used the artistic name "Taito," with which he signed this painting. Hokusai's painting style evolved markedly during his long and productive career; this work is significantly different from "Courtesan" (see F1903.129), which he painted about two decades earlier. In the earlier painting, the kimono flows over the woman's body, emphasizing her elongated form, whereas in this image, voluminous layers of kimono form a striking and dominant pattern of color and line. |