Item from the Mokuhankan Flea Market

Beauty Mutsu

Size: 38.5cm by 25.5cm (15.16 in by 10.04 in) | Enlargement | Shipping Code: [L] ?

Designer: Ichirakutei Eisui

Era: Post-war | Currency: $ / £ / €

Price: ¥ 10,000$ 72.00£ 54.00€ 62.25 [Item has been sold]

Description: This print by ukiyo-e artist Ichirakutei Eisui depicts the courtesan Mutsu, who worked at the Tsuruya Teahouse in the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters, she is holding a shuhai (sake cup).

Eisui is known to have made many ōkubi-e, portraits in which only the head or the head and upper torso are pictured. Utamaro made the first ōkubi-e portraits of beautiful women (as opposed to male actors) in the early 1790s, and it seems Eisui followed suit.

A highlight of this ōkubi-e is the very fine carving and printing of the hairline of the courtesan, showing the skill of the craftsmen involved.

The interesting color palette of a soft light blue chosen for the robe and the bold and gray background allows the floral pattern to stand out and contrast with the red color of the cup.

This version is a reproduction published by Ishu Kanko-kai and produced by Kajikawa Kobo probably in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

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