鳥文斎栄之画「青楼美撰合　初売座敷之図　扇屋滝川」|Takigawa of the Ōgiya Brothel: The First Reception Room Appointment of the New Year (Hatsu-uri zashiki no zu: Ōgiya Takigawa), from the series A Comparison of Selected Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō bisen awase)

Chōbunsai Eishi

ca. 1794–95 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

鳥文斎栄之画「青楼美撰合　初売座敷之図　扇屋滝川」|Takigawa of the Ōgiya Brothel: The First Reception Room Appointment of the New Year (Hatsu-uri zashiki no zu: Ōgiya Takigawa), from the series A Comparison of Selected Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō bisen awase) — Chōbunsai Eishi

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.

Artist: Chōbunsai Eishi
Date: ca. 1794–95
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Culture: Japan
Department: Asian Art
Credit line: Fletcher Fund, 1929

鳥文斎栄之画 「青楼美撰合 初売座敷之図 扇屋滝川」|Takigawa of the Ōgiya Brothel: The First Reception Room Appointment of the New Year (Hatsu-uri zashiki no zu: Ōgiya Takigawa), from the series A Comparison of Selected Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō bisen awase)

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