Painting study · Ink painting
Hell Courtesan1871–89 · Study 1985.268
Kawanabe Kyōsai (Japanese, 1831–1889)
1871–89
Recorded as Hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and silver on silk, this vertical work measures 67.6 × 144.2 cm using the museum’s image dimensions. Explore the museum’s context and compare the format with a wall of your choice.
Museum collection reference. This work is not offered for sale by Physical Art For Crypto. Museum attribution does not imply a partnership or endorsement.
Context from the museum
Kawanabe Kyōsai repeated this large-scale composition with variations a number of times. In this version, a famous 15th-century courtesan known for wearing a robe with images of the Buddhist hells stands before a folding screen. Legend has it that she was abducted by bandits, and wore the garment to symbolize her belief that her suffering in her current life was punishment for sins committed in a former life. Here, in a parody depiction of the garment, the courtesan stands in for Benzaiten, the goddess of everything that flows, while the remaining members of the Seven Gods of Good Fortune appear on her outer robe. One of them reports sins to Enma, the King of Hell, who is writing out his judgments on the recently deceased.
Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.
A detail to notice
The word for longevity appears multiple times in gold and silver on her outer robe.
Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Read the dimensions before the image
The selected image measurement for Hell Courtesan is 67.6 cm wide and 144.2 cm high, equivalent to approximately 26.6 × 56.8 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.47:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.97 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.
On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 22.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 116.2 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.
Questions to bring to your own collection
With Hell Courtesan in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, Hanging scroll; ink, color, gold, and silver on silk, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.
- Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
- Would a 67.6 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
- What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?
Explore physical scale
How large would this format feel on your wall?
Use this museum work’s recorded format as a reference. Adjust a blank wall and optional frame allowance to compare proportions. The museum painting is an educational reference and is not for sale here.
Calculation: outside width = recorded width + twice your frame allowance. This is a proportion study, not an installation assessment. It excludes furniture, hardware, load capacity, depth and delivery clearance. The display image may include margins absent from the recorded measurement.
Compare formats with the studio collection
These Lei-Kol works have the closest width-to-height ratios in the current catalog. This is a geometry comparison, not a claim of artistic similarity, equivalent value, or association with the museum artist.
| Painting | Width × height | Format ratio | USD catalog price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheesecake | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,099 |
| Riptide | 24 × 48 in | 0.50:1 | $1,199 |
| Graffiti | 30 × 48 in | 0.63:1 | $2,199 |
Availability and delivery costs must be confirmed for the individual order.
Related studies
1880 · Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Calligraphy and Painting Party
Kawanabe Kyōsai (Japanese, 1831–1889); Others (Japanese) · hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
late 1800s · Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Gathering of Otsu-e Subjects
Shibata Zeshin (Japanese, 1807–1891) · Eight-panel folding screen; ink and color on hemp
c. 1868–1912 · Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Kannon
Artist not recorded · hanging scroll; ink and color on silk; inscription in gold ink on silk
1871 · Japan, Meiji period (1868–1912)
Beggar (Kojiki)
Hirafuku Suian (Japanese, 1844–1890) · hanging scroll; ink on paper
Ready to describe what you want in your own space?
Start an artwork inquiry ↗