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Hell Courtesan

1871–1889

Public domainThis image is free to download, share and reuse. The license is recorded as "CC0 (Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access)" by clevelandart.org. See the evidence.

The story

The Hell Courtesan was a famed 15th-century courtesan who wore a robe painted with the Buddhist hells, said to be penance after bandits abducted her. Kyōsai parodies the garment, casting her as the goddess Benzaiten, with the other Gods of Good Fortune on her robe.

Source, Cleveland Museum of Art

Object details

Title: Hell Courtesan
Artist: Kawanabe Kyōsai
Date: 1871–1889
Culture: Not recorded
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and silver on silk
Object type: Drawings
Collection: The Cleveland Museum of Art (1985.268)
Credit line: Image source clevelandart.org. License CC0 (Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access).
Object number: EFA.1163
Original image: 1395 × 3000 px
Source record: View on clevelandart.org
License evidence: See the license

Cite this object

Kawanabe Kyōsai. Hell Courtesan. 1871–1889. The Cleveland Museum of Art (1985.268). Image source clevelandart.org. License CC0 (Cleveland Museum of Art Open Access). In The Secret Cabinet, https://thesecretcabinet.com/object/ea1163/