CHOBUNSAI EISHI 

The Courtesan Takigawa of the Ōgiya Brothel

Chōbunsai Eishi (1756 - 1829)

Courtesan Takigawa from the Ogiya House

Series: Re-strike

Medium: Woodblock Print

Date: Early 20th Century

Size (H x W): 15.25 x 10 (inches)

Edition: Early 20th century

Signature: Eishi ga

Condition: Some spotting and creasing to sheet, otherwise a good colors, impression, state, and mica ground

Notes: With early 'Unso-Doco' (Unsodo Co) Kyoto gallery label in small matt window below main image window. 

The high-ranking courtesan Takigawa self-consciously adjusts her hair and clothing in preparation for receiving a customer. Her gorgeous garments are of the variety that a contemporary popular writer had in mind when describing high-class courtesans wearing “undergarments of white damask and two robes: an under-robe of scarlet and white kanoko shibori [“fawn spots”] and the outer one of pale . . . silk, dyed and embroidered.” Chōbunsai Eishi adds a dark obi sash that dramatically contrasts with the delicate blue-and-purple robe. The sparkling mica background completes the air of sumptuousness. Eishi’s prints, characterized by elegant, elongated figures and meticulous draftsmanship, evoke his artistic training by Kano-school painters.