Chōdayu of the Okamotoya - Keisai Eisen

A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Keisai Eisen featuring the courtesan Chōdayu of the Okamotoya and her young attendant.

This woodblock print by Keisai Eisen depicts Chōdayu, a high-ranking courtesan from the Okamotoya establishment. Eisen, a prolific artist of the late Edo period, was known for his bijin-ga, or pictures of beautiful women. His work often captured the fashion and cultural trends of the Yoshiwara pleasure district.

In this composition, the courtesan is shown in a formal pose, wearing an elaborate kimono adorned with a pattern of rectangular cartouches. Her hair is styled with numerous hairpins, a hallmark of her status. Beside her stands a young attendant, or kamuro, whose smaller stature and simpler attire provide a visual contrast to the grandeur of the courtesan. The artist employs a balanced use of colour, with muted tones of blue, green, and soft pinks set against the warm, aged paper background. The inclusion of a rooster motif on the kimono fabric adds a layer of symbolic detail common in the textile designs of the era.

Eisen was a student of Kikukawa Eizan and later developed a distinct style that often featured slightly elongated figures and expressive facial features. This print reflects the technical precision of the ukiyo-e tradition, where the collaborative process between the artist, woodcarver, and printer resulted in works that were accessible to the urban population of Edo. The print serves as a record of the aesthetic preferences and social hierarchies of the time, documenting the elaborate dress and presentation of those who inhabited the pleasure quarters.