Courtesans of the South Station

This is one of a series of prints depicting beautiful courtesans from the various pleasure quarters in Edo (modern Tokyo). Nan’eki (literally “south station”) is one name for the Shinagawa district, where the two courtesans and young attendant shown here presumably live. Here the Shinagawa women are dressed in robes boldly patterned with various auspicious images. Signs of their up-to-date habits and styles include the green velvet obi worn by the woman on the right and the telescope, an expensive novelty at the time, that the kneeling attendant carefully protects with a cloth.