Women's Bathhouse and Laundry

Mid-18th to early 19th century

In Japan during the Edo period (1615–1868), bathing was considered a communal activity, and bathhouses were popular places to socialize. The women in this painting—most likely courtesans—are performing a variety of tasks in addition to bathing, such as doing laundry and combing one another’s hair. Two women near the back of the scene are reading a book; one of them seems to express shock and whispers to the other about the content.

Public domain · CC0
Free to download and reuse. Image courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.

Artist

Kitao Shigemasa Japanese, 1739-1830

Date

Mid-18th to early 19th century

Medium

Ink and colors on paper

Dimensions

104.6 × 188.7 cm (41 3/16 × 74 5/16 in.)

Origin

Japan

Collection

Art Institute of Chicago

Credit

Margaret Gentles Endowment