Two Beauties/二美人図

Katsushika Hokusai was a ukiyo-e artist and printmaker during the period of Edo. He is known as a wood block print artist and was the leading figure in Chinese painting. This work is considered to be portrayed when he was 40, during the earlier half of his career.  As this work reflected, the characteristics of his works of beautiful women at the time are thin and sharp faces and exquisite touches of their mild expressions. In addition, his works do not use many colors, but rather tend to use serene color schemes. This work depicts the standing courtesan and sitting geisha, and the contrasting and well composed of the two women are worthy of attention.