Karakoto of Chojiya on Parade. Artist: Chobunsai Eishi (Japanese, 1756-1829). Culture: Japan. Dimensions: 15 1/8 x 10 1/8 in. (38.4 x 25.7 cm). Date: ca. 1790.An oiran, the highest class of courtesan, was accompanied by two young attendants, who were modeled on Heian pages, and two shinzo, or ladies-in-waiting, who were learning the profession. Each evening, the oiran and her entourage would parade through the streets. The young attendants wore the sleeves of their robes tied shut with a bow. The parade was as much for promotion as it was for exercise, and depictions of the ritual served as business advertisements and as fashion plates--the smart, city clothing might be copied by provincial women.The event is captured here in a dark palette known as beni-girai, or "hatred of red," which reflected a sophisticated fashion for gray and brown fabric dyes. Eishi highlights the somber range of colors with touches of peach and yellow. Museum: Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, USA.