Wakamurasaki of the Kadotamaya - Chōkōsai Eishō

A refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Chōkōsai Eishō, depicting the courtesan Wakamurasaki with a goldfish bowl.

This woodblock print by Chōkōsai Eishō depicts Wakamurasaki, a courtesan associated with the Kadotamaya establishment. Eishō was a pupil of Chōbunsai Eishi and active during the late eighteenth century, a period when the ukiyo-e genre focused heavily on the depiction of beauties, or bijin-ga. The artist employs a close-up composition, focusing on the subject from the shoulders up, which allows for a detailed examination of the subject's facial features and hairstyle.

The subject is shown holding a small glass vessel containing a goldfish, a common motif in Edo-period art that suggests leisure and the refined atmosphere of the pleasure quarters. Her expression is calm, and her gaze is directed downward towards the fish. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the period, with clean lines defining the contours of her face, the elaborate arrangement of her hair, and the folds of her kimono. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones that complement the paper texture rather than overwhelming the viewer with saturated pigments.

Eishō is recognised for his ability to capture the grace of his subjects, often favouring elongated proportions that were fashionable in the prints of the time. This work is a fine example of the bijin-ga style, where the focus remains on the aesthetic presentation of the courtesan as a figure of urban sophistication. The inclusion of the artist's signature and the title cartouche in the upper left corner provides the necessary context for the print within the broader catalogue of Edo-period works. The composition avoids unnecessary clutter, allowing the viewer to appreciate the balance between the figure and the negative space. This print offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the Yoshiwara district, where such images were produced for a public eager to see the most celebrated women of the era.