鳥文斎栄之画 「青楼美人六花仙 丁子屋雛鶴鸖」|The Courtesan Hinazuru of the Chōjiya Brothel (Chōjiya Hinazuru), from the series Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters as Six Floral Immortals (Seirō bijin rokkasen)

Characterized by Eishi’s distinctive bijin-ga style, the print features a tall, thin, graceful figure set against a light yellow background. The composition includes meticulously detailed objects such as a table with a red cloth and a stack of books, showcasing Eishi’s attention to decorative elements and spatial harmony.

Created by Chōbunsai Eishi (born Hosoda Tokitomi), a former samurai turned artist, after leaving his position with a 500 koku stipend from the Shōgun. Trained under Kano Eisen'in Michinobu, Eishi established a reputation for his portraits of elegant beauties, with this work being part of a series highlighting courtesans as 'floral immortals'.

Emerging in the late 18th century, this print reflects the ukiyo-e tradition’s fascination with the pleasure quarters and beautiful people. It also highlights Eishi’s transition from a samurai background to contributing to the flourishing world of woodblock printing in Edo (modern Tokyo).

*The Courtesan Hinazuru* contributes to Eishi’s legacy as a prominent bijin-ga artist, influencing subsequent generations of ukiyo-e practitioners with his idealized, graceful depictions of women. The work remains a testament to the artistic shift towards capturing the allure of everyday elite and pleasure quarter life in late Edo-period Japan.