Rare Japanese Aizuri-e Woodblock Print Eisen Courtesan

Rare Japanese Edo period woodblock print by Keisai Eisen (1790-1848) depicting a standing courtesan, published by Kawaguchiya Shozo circa 1830’s. An interesting addition to the Edo artist’s repertoire was the Dutch import of a mineral pigment called Prussian blue, or Berlin blue (“berorin”), which replaced the inferior quality Japanese indigo dye. “Blue pictures,” or “aizuri-e”, became quite popular around 1829. Hokusai and Hiroshige used Prussian blue extensively in their landscape prints, particularly to create gradations of color in sky and water. Eisen, represented here, started a fashion for prints of beauties executed solely in this imported color with accents of “beni” red. Paper size: 14 5/8"V x 10 1/8"H. Good overall condition. The paper on this print was thinned and had losses, so it has been professionally cleaned, conserved, and conservation paper backed.

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