Visiting, from the Series Seven Fashionable Komachi - Isoda Koryūsai

A refined Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai, depicting a social encounter from the series Seven Fashionable Komachi.

This woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai belongs to the series Seven Fashionable Komachi, a collection that reimagines the life of the ninth-century poet Ono no Komachi within the contemporary context of the Edo period. Koryūsai, a former samurai who turned to printmaking, was a prolific artist known for his refined depictions of women and his mastery of the hashira-e (pillar print) format.

The composition features two figures engaged in a quiet interaction. One woman stands outside, sheltered by an umbrella, while the other looks out from behind a wooden lattice screen. The scene captures a moment of social encounter, rendered with the characteristic elegance of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The artist employs a balanced use of line and colour, focusing on the textures of the kimono and the architectural elements of the screen. The muted palette, dominated by earthy tones and soft reds, reflects the aesthetic preferences of the mid-Edo period.

Koryūsai was instrumental in the development of the full-colour nishiki-e print. His work often displays a high degree of technical precision, particularly in the rendering of fabric patterns and facial features. The series Seven Fashionable Komachi is a notable example of the parody genre, or mitate-e, where classical themes were updated to suit the tastes of the urban merchant class. By placing a legendary poet in a modern setting, Koryūsai invites the viewer to appreciate the continuity of cultural motifs while enjoying the fashion and social customs of his own time. This print offers a glimpse into the daily life of the period, framed by the artistic conventions of the eighteenth century.