The Courtesan Senzan Blackening Her Teeth

Suzuki Harunobu, The Courtesan Senzan Blackening Her Teeth, ca. 1765-1770, Woodblock print in "chūban" format; ink and color on paper, 21.3 x 14.6 cm.

This work shows a courtesan coloring their teeth black, which is a beauty practice called ohaguro that originates from the Heian period but continued into the Edo period. Ohaguro is even referenced in works of classical Japanese literature such as The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu. This beauty practice likely stems from the idea that people who were wealthy were able to afford to eat sugar and hide any imperfections in the teeth. Furthermore, the black mixture also acted as a protective layer that fought against cavities. Having black teeth and hair were deemed as beautiful in Edo Japan. This blackening of the teeth also makes the white facial makeup of women appear even whiter. Compared to her kimono and hair, the courtesan’s makeup is very simple and her face is rendered with minimal ink linework. The courtesan has a serene and elegant aura to her as she applies the blackening agent to her teeth. There are various woodblock prints from the Edo period that portray courtesans getting ready for work and beautifying their appearance.