Standing Courtesan with Pattern of Water Wheels and Waves on her Robe

The Kaigetsudō school, founded by the painter Kaigetsudō Ando 懐月堂安度, was active only briefly, in the early 18th century, and its prints are some of the rarest and most sought after by collectors. Only twenty-three are known to exist.

The school became known for a distinctive subject and style in paintings and in prints, seen here. A courtesan, identifiable by her sash (obi) being tied in the front, stands against a blank background. In a simple but elegant composition, her body sways forward in an arc that is countered by the downward thrust of her sleeve and the signature and seals below. The careful thick and thin of the calligraphic outlines create bold and dynamic swoops, matched by the water wheels and turbulent waves on her kimono.