• Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)
Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (<i>Yoshiwara no hanazakari</i> - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (<i>Tōto meisho hakkei</i> - 東都名所八景)

Kikugawa Eizan (菊川英山) (artist 1787 – 1867)

Cherry blossoms in blooming in the Yoshiwara (Yoshiwara no hanazakari - 吉原の花盛) from the series 'Eight Views of Famous Places in the Eastern Capital' (Tōto meisho hakkei - 東都名所八景)

Print


1812
Signed: Kikugawa Eizan hitsu
菊川英山筆
Publisher: Wakasaya Yoichi
(Marks 573 - seal closest to 07-008)
Censor's seal: kiwame
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Google maps - Yoshiwara Shrine - one of the only signs of where this famous district was The word hanazakuri (花盛) is rich with meaning, both as a mitate and a metaphor. It has three separate meanings, all of which overlap in one way or another. 1) It is a reference to flowers when they are in full bloom. This could be everything from roses to irises, but in Japanese prints and paintings it is almost always cherry blossoms. 2) It can be a description of a person, mostly applied to women, who are at the peak of their beauty, as would be the oiran in this Eizan print. And 3) hanazakuri can mean the height, or even a boom, of one's popularity, as in the case of an actor.

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Another copy of this print is illustrated in color in an Exhibition of Ukiyo-e Beauties by Kikukawa Eizan at the Riccar Art Museum in 1985. It is #35. The Riccar dates this print from 1816-18.
Wakasaya Yoichi (若狹屋与市) (publisher)
beautiful women (bijin-ga - 美人画) (genre)
landscape prints (fūkeiga 風景画) (genre)
mitate-e (見立て絵) (author)