Two Beauties after the Bath

18th century

Not on view

Kiyonaga's artistic output was largely devoted to prints. This painting, one of the earliest o his twenty-nine known paintings, shows two women after their bath. The seated woman reads a book entitled Contemporary Fashion. With their hair in bow-curved side locks, popular during the 1780s, these women are themselves reflections of contemporary fashion. Their slightly angular faces and the relative shortness of the standing figure reflect Kiyonaga's early style. The open paper doors suggest the arrival of warm weather, and the space beyond the railed veranda imparts a feeling of airiness. Kiyonaga captures the texture and transparency of the robes, while the arm partially seen through the garment adds to the sensuousness of the scene.

Artwork Details

Overview

Signatures, Inscriptions, and Markings

Provenance

References

Title: Two Beauties after the Bath
Artist: Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752–1815)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 18th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
Dimensions: 39 7/8 x 14 1/2 in. (101.3 x 36.8 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
Object Number: 36.100.47
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Torii Kiyonaga

In the same medium

From the same time and place

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

Two Women in a Garden, Torii Kiyonaga Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Two Women in a Garden
Torii Kiyonaga
ca. 1789

Ichikawa Danjuro Fifth as Kyo no Jiro in Disguise as Dekuroku byoe the Stree Puppet-showman, Torii Kiyonaga Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Ichikawa Danjuro Fifth as Kyo no Jiro in Disguise as Dekuroku byoe the Stree Puppet-showman
Torii Kiyonaga
ca. 1788

On a Balcony a Woman is Seated Playing a Tsuzumi, below a Man in Daimyo Costume is Seated upon a Black Lacquer Box, Torii Kiyonaga Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — On a Balcony a Woman is Seated Playing a Tsuzumi, below a Man in Daimyo Costume is Seated upon a Black Lacquer Box
Torii Kiyonaga
ca. 1790

Two Women in Summer Costume Taking a Young Girl to a Shinto Temple for the Miya Mairi Ceremony, Torii Kiyonaga Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Two Women in Summer Costume Taking a Young Girl to a Shinto Temple for the Miya Mairi Ceremony
Torii Kiyonaga
ca. 1783

Cooling off at Sashiye, Torii Kiyonaga Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Cooling off at Sashiye
Torii Kiyonaga
ca. 1782

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.