Description:
nishiki-e; bijinga; diptych on textured paper; kakemono-e
Label Text:
The carp prominently displayed on this courtesan’s obi are traditional symbols of perseverance. To reflect this nature, carp—despite commonly living in placid garden ponds—are conventionally portrayed as leaping up waterfalls and overcoming rapids. The style of this print is representative of Keisai Eisen, who designed many bijinga (prints of beauties) with incredible richness, using varied and original colors to magnificent effect, here further enhanced by the work’s kakemono-e format, which extends across two sheets. Eisen paid close attention to the details of a woman’s kimono, and in this particular design the elaborate carp, Buddhist emblems, and morning glories highlight the courtesan’s own attractive qualities. Her blackened teeth, a practice modeled after the women of the Japanese imperial court, were a symbol of adulthood and a feature considered both beautiful and refined.
- BB, ed., 2015
Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=AC+2005.404.a%2Cb |
