A Parody of the Tales of Ise

Art Historical Context

Chôbunsai Eishi, a master of ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") Japan's Edo period, created *A Parody of the of Ise* around 1789–95. This vibrant color woodblock print is the right sheet of anan triptych—a-format series designed to be viewed together, measuring about 36.2 × 23.7 cm per sheet. Eishi, renowned for his elegant depictions of courtesans and, infused his works with a refined lyricism, blending delicate lines and subtle colors achieved through the collaborative woodblock process: carvers shaped blocks for each hue, printers applied pigments, and artisans layered them for depth. The title nods to the *Tales of Ise*, a 10th-century classical anthology of poetry and romance linked to poet Ariwara no Narihira. Eishi's parody humorously reimagines these timeless stories in the exuberant world of Edo's pleasure quarters, featuring glamorous women in contemporary fashions mimicking literary scenes. Such mitate-e (parodies) were a clever ukiyo-e staple, making high culture accessible and entertaining for urban audiences through affordable prints. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this piece exemplifies Eishi's graceful style—poised figures with flowing kimonos and expressive gazes—bridging ancient lore and fleeting pleasures, capturing the witty spirit of late 18th-century Japan.

About the Artist

Chôbunsai Eishi · 1756–1829

Chôbunsai Eishi, born Hosoda Tokitomi in 1756 to a prosperous samurai family of the Fujiwara clan in Edo, inherited a substantial stipend of 500 koku of rice annually. His grandfather had served as the shogunate's Treasury Minister, and upon his father Hosoda Tokiyuki's death in 1772, Eishi became family head while holding a position in Shogun Tokugawa Ieharu's palace from 1781. Unusually for a uk...