Important Cultural Property
Three Beauties Representing Snow, the Moon and Cherry Blossoms
Data
| Artist | By Katsukawa Shunsho |
|---|---|
| Period | Edo period, 18th century |
| Materials and techniques | Set of three hanging scrolls, colour on silk |
| Size | 93.0×32.3 each |
Explanation
The work superimposes the three hanging scrolls ---snow, moon and flower--- onto the dynasty’s three talented beauties; Sei-shōnagon, Murasaki-shikibu and Ono-no-komachi. Then it transforms them into contemporary women’s manners. It is said that Sunshō specialized in painting beauties at the request of the nobility and the rich during the Tenmei era (1781-88), and this triptych work is probably also from that period.