Parrot Komachi, from the series The Fashionable Seven Komachi (Furyu nana Komachi)

About this artwork

The stooped figure of an elderly Ono no Komachi stands in the distance behind two fashionable young women and a child. In this scene, one of the women holds a piece of paper with a poem written on it, a reference to a specific episode in Komachi’s life. After receiving a poem from the emperor, she replied by returning the same poem with only one character changed. Komachi’s response was comparable to that of a parrot, hence the name of the story, “Parrot Komachi."

Art Historical Context

Chôbunsai Eishi created *Parrot Komachi* around 1788 as part of his series *The Fashionable Seven Komachi*. This color woodblock print captures the refined elegance of the late Edo period, when ukiyo-e artists reimagined classical Japanese legends through contemporary fashion and beauty. The title suggests a playful update of the famous poet Ono no Komachi’s stories, presenting her in stylish, modern dress that would have appealed to urban viewers of the time. As an oban-sized print measuring 36.5 × 25.1 cm, the work exemplifies the accessible yet sophisticated medium of color woodblock printing. Edo-period publishers and artists used this technique to produce vibrant, detailed images in large editions, allowing people from various social classes to enjoy art that once existed only in paintings or poetry. Eishi’s graceful linework and delicate color palette reflect the refined tastes of his era. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Asia collection, *Parrot Komachi* offers a window into Japan’s rich tradition of blending literature, fashion, and popular culture. The print invites viewers to appreciate how artists like Eishi transformed timeless themes into fresh, visually captivating scenes.

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...