High Ranking Courtesan

This painting depicts a high-ranking courtesan, most likely an oiran. As seen in the painting, she is wearing a bright red kimono which is heavily embroidered. The inner robes seem to have detailed work on them while her obi has blue waves and a golden circle in the center. All of the embroideries seem to have gold thread outlining the flowers and waves. While viewing the courtesan in concern to sumptuary laws, it can be seen that many of the laws are being broken. Some include wearing a bright red robe which would most likely be dyed safflower red - a color that was not allowed to be worn by anyone other than the higher class. She also has heavy embroidery on her robes and obi, another facet that was banned for the townspeople. This is a perfect example of a way the townspeople broke the sumptuary laws. The courtesan, mostly the high ranking ones, were, as seen in the painting allowed to completely break them. I believe this is because daimyos and shogun knew that this is one of the only ways that commoners were allowed to be near elite things like the kimonos. Sonal Gupta Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago