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Handscroll
By Hanabusa Iccho
Color on paper
29.3x658.3
Edo period
The subject is Yoshiwara, the famous gay quarters of Edo. The handscroll contains five scenes: a choki boat on Okawa River; the front of a lattice woodwork brothel; Ageya-district; the facade of a house of ill repute; and one of its rooms. There is an inscription at the end to the effect that this handscroll was painted by Suisa at the request of his friend, along with two seals "Aimoko"
and "Choko"
. Furthermore, at the very end of the scroll there is an inscription written in ink, "Mounted on the 12th day of the 7th month of the lunar calendar, the 16th year of Genroku"(1703). All these provide evidence that these pictures were painted by Hanabusa Iccho while he was in exile on Miyake Island at the request of his friend in Edo. These paintings probably represent his reminiscences about the pleasures of the gay quarters.