Court Lady

Object Details

• School/Tradition

  Tosa

• Label

  The subject of this painting may be Ono no Komachi (circa 825. circa 900), a poet who is included among the six great classical poets (Rokkasen). Renowned for her poetry as well as her beauty, Komachi later became the subject of legends, No plays, and stories retold and illustrated in popular media during the Edo period (1615-1868).

  The decorated oblongs at the top of the painting represent shikishi (poem sheets), which probably were intended to be inscribed by a calligrapher. Her long, flowing hair and facial features, including the broad eyebrows applied with makeup above the natural brow line, reflect the customs of the imperial court. Her pose and garments, however, resemble those of contemporary courtesans of the early Edo period (1615-1868), often depicted in paintings of beautiful women and men of the floating world of entertainers and actors. This painting, embellished with gold, is a luxurious production that is also noteworthy for its mounting made from antique kimono silks.

• Provenance

  ?-2005

  Mr. and Mrs. Victor (1919-2013) and Takako Hauge (1923-2015) [1]

  From 2005

  The National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution, gift of Osborne and Gratia Hauge, and Victor and Takako Hauge [2]

  Notes:

  [1] The Hauge family began collecting Asian paintings, sculpture, and ceramics in the late 1940s and would amass a large collection in the post-World War II years.

  [2] Ownership of collected objects sometimes changed between members of the Hauge families. See Deed of Gift, dated October 16, 2005, copy in object file. This work is part of the Museum’s Freer Gallery of Art Collection.

• Collection

  Freer Gallery of Art Collection

• Exhibition History

  Moonlight and Clouds: Silver and Gold in the Arts of Japan (November 11, 2008 to November 11, 2009)

• Previous custodian or owner

  Victor (1919-2013) and Takako (1923-2015) Hauge

• Origin

  Japan

• Credit Line

  Gift of Victor and Takako Hauge

• Type

  Painting

• Restrictions and Rights

  Usage Conditions Apply

  There are restrictions for re-using this media. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page.

  The information presented on this website may be revised and updated at any time as ongoing research progresses or as otherwise warranted. Pending any such revisions and updates, information on this site may be incomplete or inaccurate or may contain typographical errors. Neither the Smithsonian nor its regents, officers, employees, or agents make any representations about the accuracy, reliability, completeness, or timeliness of the information on the site. Use this site and the information provided on it subject to your own judgment. The National Museum of Asian Art welcomes information that would augment or clarify the ownership history of objects in their collections.

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  collections.si.edu

• Date

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• Name

  Hauge, Victor and Takako

• Place

  Japan

• Topic

  Art, Hauge collection, Edo period, Japan, (1600 - 1868), Japanese Art, Kimono, Woman

• Culture

  Japanese

• Object Type

  Paintings