Courtesan returning to her lover, by Isoda Koryusai

An image of Courtesan returning to her lover. Isoda Koryûsai (active 1766-1788). Colour print from woodblocks, height 686mm, width 117mm. Hashira-e format. Circa 1771. The provocative glimpse of the woman's body is typical of prints known as abuna-e (risqué picture). The expression was used as early as 1687 in a 'floating world' story book (ukiyo-zôshi) entitled Amorous educational pictures (Kôshoku kimmô zui); it defined the quality of tantalising pictures that show only a glimpse rather than revealing all.

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Courtesan returning to her lover. Isoda Koryûsai (active 1766-1788). Colour print from woodblocks, height 686mm, width 117mm. Hashira-e format. Circa 1771. The provocative glimpse of the woman's body is typical of prints known as abuna-e (risqué picture). The expression was used as early as 1687 in a 'floating world' story book (ukiyo-zôshi) entitled Amorous educational pictures (Kôshoku kimmô zui); it defined the quality of tantalising pictures that show only a glimpse rather than revealing all.

Image data

Accession Number: P.3639-R
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/22.0
Focal length: 50
Camera: Hasselblad H3DII-31
Photographer name: Michael Jones
Image height: 1025 pixels
Image width: 189 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 244.32kB
Exposure time: 1/125
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 22/1
Captured: 2013:08:27 10:00:55

Key words

18th Century abuna-e amorous clothes clothing colour printing costume courtesan Edo Period fashion female Fitz_PDP geigi geiko geisha hair hairstyle hashira-e interior Isoda Koryusai Japan Japanese kanzashi hairpin lovers print provocative risque robes screen ukiyo-e woman woodblock woodcut

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2026)
            "Courtesan returning to her lover, by Isoda Koryusai "
            Web page available at: https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-218479 Accessed: 2026-01-18 12:09:50

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            {{cite web|url=https://data.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/id/image/media-218479
            |title=Courtesan returning to her lover, by Isoda Koryusai 
            |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2026-01-18 12:09:50|publisher=The
            University of Cambridge}}

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        <figcaption class="figure-caption text-info">Courtesan returning to her lover, by Isoda Koryusai </figcaption>
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