Torii Kiyonaga (鳥居清長) (artist 1752 – 1815)
The courtesan Nioteru (鳰照) of the Ogiya (おぎや) with two attendants, Namiji and Aō-mi - from a triptych of courtesans viewing cherry blossoms (Naka no machi no sakura - 仲之町の桜)
1785
10 in x 14.75 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Kiyonaga ga (清長画)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi
(Marks 391 - seal 23-016)
Seal: Eiju han
Chicago Art Institute - a different printing - the full triptych
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston - the full triptych
Metropolitan Museum of Art - different edition with an extra figure
British Museum - keyblock image with extra figure
British Museum - Koryūsai of Nioteru and kamuro
Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum - a Meiji copy from 1868-1912 There is a Koryūsai print of Nioteru and a kamuro in the British Museum. The curatorial notes are interesting:
"From the 1770s to the 1790s the 'Fan House' run by Ogiya Uemon was one of the most prestigious brothels in Yoshiwara. The notation 'tsukidashi' next to Nioteru's name means that she has made her debut as a courtesan without first apprenticing as a shinzo. This took place about the 6th month, 1776."
****
The name Nioteru must have been one that was adopted by several women who served the Ogiya. We know this for two reasons: 1) the success of a popular courtesan was short-lived and 2) Eisen and others decades later portrayed women using this same name.
This is the right panel of a triptych, which according to the Rijksmuseum was originally printed in 1768.
Nishimuraya Yohachi (西村屋与八) (publisher)
beautiful woman picture (bijin-ga - 美人画) (genre)