Kikugawa Eizan (菊川英山) (artist 1787 – 1867)
Hashira-e of two elegant courtesans
ca 1812
3.75 in x 23.5 in (Overall dimensions) Japanese woodblock print
Signed: Eizan hitsu (英山筆)
We have been trying to find the name of the hairstyle of the courtesan seen at the top, but as of yet we have found nothing. But we are sure their is a name and in time we will find it. That said, in searching out similar images we found an early painting, a hanging scroll, of a courtesan with a kamuro and baby by Utamaro. That is dated to ca. 1794. It can be found in the Chiba City Museum and is illustrated in The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro by Asano and Clark, #5.
A similar hairstyle appears as early as 1793 in an Utamaro print. This style was still being used as late as 1798-1800. We mention this because the fads for particular hairstyles often last for only a number of years and are then revised years later. Therefore knowing the history of a particular style makes it easier generally to date imagery.
Eizan was portraying courtesans with this coiffure in 1807, the year after Utamaro's death and again in 1811-12. We have added two other jpegs of hashira-e above and to the left because they take the same basic form that this Eizan does. One is by Utamaro who died in 1806 and the other is by Kuninao. The most striking similarity between all three examples are the hairdos worn by the high-ranking courtesan at the top of each composition. This more than a coincidence.
We should also note that based on stylistic considerations we have redated this hashira-e in the Lyon Collection to ca. 1812. (JSV)
beautiful woman picture (bijin-ga - 美人画) (genre)
pillar print (hashira-e - 柱絵) (genre)