Courtesan Collection (page 5)

Hanaogi of the Ogiya, from the series "Renowned Beauties Likened to the Six Immortal... c. 1795/96
Hanaogi of the Ogiya, from the series "Renowned Beauties Likened to the Six Immortal Poets (Komei bijin rokkasen)", Japan, c. 1795/96

Miyahito of the Ogiya, Whose Assistants Are Tsubaki and Shirabe (Ogiya uchi... Japan, 1793/94)
Miyahito of the Ogiya, Whose Assistants Are Tsubaki and Shirabe (Ogiya uchi Miyahito, Tsubaki, Shirabe), Japan, 1793/94

Miyahito of the Ogiya, Whose Assistants Are Tsubaki and Shirabe (Ogiya uchi... Japan, 1793/94)
Miyahito of the Ogiya, Whose Assistants Are Tsubaki and Shirabe (Ogiya uchi Miyahito, Tsubaki, Shirabe), Japan, 1793/94

Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day...", Japan, c. 1794
Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin zoroe)", Japan, c. 1794

Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day...", Japan, c. 1794
Takigawa, from the series "Array of Supreme Beauties of the Present Day (Toji zensei bijin zoroe)", Japan, c. 1794

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants... c. 1803
The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants Tamamo and Mitsumo, Japan, c. 1803

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants... c. 1803
The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsubaya in Edo-machi Itchome, with her Child Attendants Tamamo and Mitsumo, Japan, c. 1803

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as the Courtesan Agemaki in the Play Sukeroku Yukari no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as the Courtesan Agemaki in the Play Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsu-zakura, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Third Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as the Courtesan Agemaki in the Play Sukeroku Yukari no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as the Courtesan Agemaki in the Play Sukeroku Yukari no Hatsu-zakura, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Third Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Agemaki in the Play Sakai-cho Soga Nendaiki, Performed... c. 1771. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Iwai Hanshiro IV as Agemaki in the Play Sakai-cho Soga Nendaiki, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Third Month, 1771, Japan, c. 1771

The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Tamamo no Mae (?) in the Play Sakuya Kono Hana no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Tamamo no Mae (?) in the Play Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1776 (?), Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Tamamo no Mae (?) in the Play Sakuya Kono Hana no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yoshizawa Iroha I as Tamamo no Mae (?) in the Play Sakuya Kono Hana no Kaomise (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1776 (?), Japan, c. 1776

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Moshio in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1772, Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Nakamura Riko I as the Courtesan Wakamatsu (?) in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho... c. 1773. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Riko I as the Courtesan Wakamatsu (?) in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1773 (?), Japan, c. 1773

The Actor Ikushima Daikichi III as the Courtesan Naniwazu in the Play Saki Masuya Ume... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Ikushima Daikichi III as the Courtesan Naniwazu in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Miyagino Disguised as a Hairdresser in the Play... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Miyagino Disguised as a Hairdresser in the Play Kosode-gura no Tekubari, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Second Month, 1772 (?), Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Nakamura Riko I as the Courtesan Wakamatsu (?) in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho... c. 1773. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Riko I as the Courtesan Wakamatsu (?) in the Play Gohiiki Kanjincho (?), Performed at the Nakamura Theater (?) in the Eleventh Month, 1773 (?), Japan, c. 1773

The Actor Ikushima Daikichi III as the Courtesan Naniwazu in the Play Saki Masuya Ume... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Ikushima Daikichi III as the Courtesan Naniwazu in the Play Saki Masuya Ume no Kachidoki, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Miyagino Disguised as a Hairdresser in the Play... c. 1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yamashita Kinsaku II as Miyagino Disguised as a Hairdresser in the Play Kosode-gura no Tekubari, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Second Month, 1772 (?), Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as the Courtesan Miyagino (?) in the Play Go Taiheiki... c. 1780. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Osagawa Tsuneyo II as the Courtesan Miyagino (?) in the Play Go Taiheiki Shiraishi-banashi (?), Performed at the Morita Theater in the Fourth Month, 1780 (?), Japan, c. 1780

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Courtesan Toyama in the Play Koi Nyobo Somewake... c. 1777. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Courtesan Toyama in the Play Koi Nyobo Somewake Tazuna, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Ninth Month, 1777, Japan, c. 1777

La Belle Otéro, c. 1895. Creator: Pal (Jean de Paléologue) (1855-1942)
La Belle Otero, c. 1895. Private Collection

La Belle Otéro, c. 1895. Creator: Pal (Jean de Paléologue) (1855-1942)
La Belle Otero, c. 1895. Private Collection

Oiso no Tora telling Soga Brothers where to find Suketsune, from the series "Illustr... c. 1843/47
Oiso no Tora telling Soga Brothers where to find Suketsune, from the series "Illustrated Tale of the Soga Brothers (Soga monogatari zue)", c. 1843/47

Courtesans of Otawaraya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776
Courtesans of Otawaraya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Kado Daikokuya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of Kado Daikokuya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

The Courtesan Hisui of the Fan House (Ogiya uchi Hisui), from the series The... About 1789-1801
The Courtesan Hisui of the Fan House (Ogiya uchi Hisui), from the series The Five Festivals Flower Competition (Gosechi hana awase), Japan, About 1789-1801

The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I as the Courtesan Toyama of Tsuruga in the Play Keisei... c. 1775. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Nakamura Tomijuro I I as the Courtesan Toyama of Tsuruga in the Play Keisei Tsuki no Miyako, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eighth Month, 1775, Japan, c. 1775

The Courtesan Michinoku of the Tsutaya House with her Kamuro Midare and Shinobu... c. 1774. Creator: Shunsho
The Courtesan Michinoku of the Tsutaya House with her Kamuro Midare and Shinobu, from the series "Kikkaku Hokufu", Japan, c. 1774

The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Maizuru in the Play Furisode Kisaragi Soga... c.1772. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Segawa Kikunojo II as the Courtesan Maizuru in the Play Furisode Kisaragi Soga, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Second Month, 1772, Japan, c. 1772

The Actor Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Naniwazu in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no... c. 1776. Creator: Shunsho
The Actor Yoshizawa Sakinosuke III as Naniwazu in the Play Sugata no Hana Yuki no Kuronushi, Performed at the Ichimura Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1776, Japan, c. 1776

Courtesans of Ogiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of Ogiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 1, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Shin Kanaya, from the series "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776
Courtesans of the Shin Kanaya, from the series "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Maruya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of Maruya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Five Courtesans of Various Houses, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 3, Japan, 1776

Four courtesans of various houses, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 3, Japan, 1776

Four courtesans of various houses, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 3, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Komatsuya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Komatsuya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Maruya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Echizenya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Echizenya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Kiribishiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Kiribishiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Kadokaneya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Kadokaneya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Nakaomiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Nakaomiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of the Nakaomiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure... 1776. Creator: Shunsho
Courtesans of the Nakaomiya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Tsuruya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776
Courtesans of Tsuruya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Otawaraya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776
Courtesans of Otawaraya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Yotsumaya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776
Courtesans of Yotsumaya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

Courtesans of Yotsumaya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters... 1776
Courtesans of Yotsumaya, from the book "Mirror of Beautiful Women of the Pleasure Quarters (Seiro bijin awase sugata kagami), " vol. 2, Japan, 1776

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"Unveiling the Enigmatic World of Courtesans: From Geishas to Parisian Beauties" Step into a captivating journey through time and culture as we explore the intriguing realm of courtesans. In Japan, the ethereal allure of geishas mesmerizes all who encounter them. With their graceful presence and traditional art forms like flower arranging, they embody elegance and mystique. Witness their unwavering commitment to honor with a bow to a samurai warrior during New Year celebrations. Meanwhile, in the heart of Paris on Champs-Elysees, lies The Paiva Mansion - an opulent sanctuary where courtesan Cora Pearl once reigned supreme. Her name echoes through history alongside other renowned figures like Agnes Willoughby and Catherine Walters, each leaving an indelible mark on society. Artists have immortalized these enchanting women throughout centuries; Reynolds' masterpiece "Cleopatra" portrays Kitty Fisher dissolving a pearl in her drink, symbolizing decadence and power. Massenet's opera "Thais" delves into the complex world of courtesans for the first time on stage. Yet not all stories are painted with such grandeur; some reveal glimpses of everyday life. A detail from "The Entry of Louis XIV and Maria Theresa into Arras" captures a moment when even royalty indulged in pleasures offered by these enigmatic women. A color engraving showcases a courtesan at play billiards during France's Second Empire - reminding us that they were not confined solely to lavish settings but also embraced ordinary pastimes. As we delve deeper into this multifaceted world, it becomes clear that being a courtesan was more than just selling one's body; it was about mastering seduction while maintaining an air of mystery. They embodied the age-old adage: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil - guarding secrets that could make or break reputations.