Matsukaze of Yamashiroya

Yoshiwara Bijin Awase (Competition of beauties of the Yoshiwara), published in 1770, was one of the first illustrated books to use the full-color printing process that had first appeared in 1765. Attributed to Harunobu on the basis of its preface, it is a masterpiece of color printing and an outstanding example of the artist's book illustrations. Each page portrays a famous courtesan of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarter whose name and house name are inscribed above, followed by a brief poem. The portraits reflect the cultivation and artistic skills associated with the upper class of courtesans. Here Matsukaze (pine wind) waits as water boils in the iron kettle. Her bamboo dipper is poised over the ceramic tea bowl, and she has arranged her bamboo tea whisk, tea caddy, and scoop nearby. Even her kimono alludes to tea, with its pattern of tea-storage jars. The signature containing Harunobu's name was added to this page after it was removed from the book.