Beauties Parodying the Seven Sages - A Selection of Younger Courtesans (Shichi kenjin yatsushi bijin shinzo zoroe): Hanasaki of the Daimonjiya
c. 1793
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
38.1 × 25.4 cm (15 × 10 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
24143
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Chôbunsai Eishi's *Beauties Parodying the Seven Sages - A Selection of Younger Courtesans (Shichi kenjin yatsushi bijin shinzo zoroe): Hanasaki of the Daimonjiya* (c. 1793) captures the playful elegance of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world." This color woodblock print, in the popular oban format (38.1 × 25.4 cm), showcases Eishi's mastery of bijin-ga—portraits of beautiful women—from the Yoshiwara pleasure district. Here, the courtesan Hanasaki from the Daimonjiya house whimsically embodies one of the legendary Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, ancient Chinese hermits known for their wisdom and eccentricity, reimagined as glamorous figures of urban sophistication. Eishi, a leading figure in the late 18th-century ukiyo-e scene, distinguished himself with refined lines, subtle gradations of color (achieved through intricate woodblock carving and multiple color blocks), and a focus on graceful poses that evoke quiet poise. This series cleverly parodies Confucian ideals through the lens of courtesan culture, blending humor, beauty, and social commentary on fleeting pleasures. Woodblock prints like this were affordable art for the masses, disseminating ideals of femininity and wit across Japan. Held in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia collection, this work highlights how ukiyo-e bridged high art and popular entertainment, influencing global aesthetics from Impressionism onward. A delightful glimpse into Japan's pleasure quarters!
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...