DISCOVERART

Hishikawa Moronobu

A Parade of Courtesans

c. 1690
Woodblock print; sumizuri-e, kakemono yoko-e
31 × 68 cm (12.2 × 26.8 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

● On view now — Gallery 107

Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · verified July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

A group of courtesans parade with servants carrying umbrellas. The print appears to depict a typical scene in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters of Edo. However, a figure on the left is identified as one of the legendary Soga brothers, 12th-century heroes whose story of valor is retold in countless Kabuki plays. It is possible that this print may depict a scene from an unidentified Soga brothers drama.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More by Hishikawa Moronobu

Beauty Turning Her HeadBeauty Turning Her HeadA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumFlirting LoversFlirting LoversA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumSpring Dance SceneSpring Dance SceneA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga albumA sheet from a shunga album

More like this

ArtworkHishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣Flirtation under the Cherry TreeSugimura Jihei — Flirtation under the Cherry TreeArtworkChōbunsai EishiBeauties of the Three Capitals: Shimabara in Kyoto (right), Yoshiwara in Edo (center), and Shinmachi in Osaka (left)Torii Kiyohiro — Beauties of the Three Capitals: Shimabara iThe First Garments of the New Year (Kiso hajime), from the illustrated book "Colors of the Triple Dawn (Saishiki mitsu no asa)"Torii Kiyonaga — The First Garments of the New Year (Kiso haParty on their way to view plum blossomsTorii Kiyomitsu I — Party on their way to view plum blossomsCourtesans Drawn in Osaka style (right), Kyoto style (center), and Edo style (left), from "Courtesans of the Three Capitals: A Set of Three (Sanga no tsu keisei sanpukutsui)"Okumura Masanobu — Courtesans Drawn in Osaka style (right), ArtworkChōbunsai EishiA Triptych of Fashionable No Plays (Furyu Utai Sambukutsui)Miyagawa Shunsui — A Triptych of Fashionable No Plays (Furyu三囲神社の御開帳|Display of Treasures at Mimeguri Shrine (Mimeguri jinja no onkaichō)Kitagawa Utamaro — 三囲神社の御開帳|Display of Treasures at MimeguriHouse cleaning in preparation for the New YearKitagawa Utamaro — House cleaning in preparation for the NewGirls of Fukagawa - A Triptych (Fukagawa musume sanpukutsui)Torii Kiyohiro — Girls of Fukagawa - A Triptych (Fukagawa mu