The pure red shell: courtesan for dressing table, Ryūryūkyo Shinsai, 1809

A courtesan in front of a dressing table arranges her clothes. On the left a second courtesan in front of a water bowl with a young girl in training. The red shell of the title could refer to the courtesan's red lips, but the poems suggest a literary association with a book entitled 'a series of shells like brocade from the coast' written by ôeda ryûhô in 1749. Label line: mentioned on object ryūryūkyo shinsai (ca. 1764 - after 1825), 1809, color woodcut; embossing; line block in black with color blocks; metallic pigments collection: prints; japan (collection). Date: 1809. Place of creation: Japan. Dimensions: blad Height: 137 mm (5.39 in) blad Width: 180 mm (7.08 in). Medium: paper. Collection: Rijksmuseum. De puur rode schelp- courtisane voor toilettafel-Rijksmuseum RP-P-1991-561