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EISEN, Keisai (1790 - 1848)		"A Contest of Modern Beauties" (Jisei bijo kurabe) "Geisha of the Eastern Capital" (Toto geiko)
		Signed:                        Keisai Eisen ga Publisher:                   Sano-ki Censor's seal:             kiwame Date:                            c. 1825 Size:                             oban tate-e (c. 37. 7 x 26 cms / c. 14 7/8" by 10 1/4") Condition: Fine impression, very good color, fine condition. Provenance: Huguette Berès collection, Paris (round seal au verso). ref. no.: # 622020 Price:  € 3,500.00

A beautiful impression of this renowned OKUBI-E ('large-head portrait'). "The print shows a geisha applying make-up to her eyebrows with a brush. She is gazing intently into a mirror, which she is steadying with her left hand. Her kimono is (red)-striped (*) with a pattern of rhombs made up of opposed butterflies with spread wings ... In style and conception this print by Eisen, and a few other similar prints that he produced, are reminiscent of the Utamaro half-length girls of a generation earlier. The fashions have changed but the powerful design and composition produce the same impact." (R. Illing, op.cit.) Reference: - Richard Illing, "Japanese Prints from 1700 to 1900; London, 1976; no. 65. The cover illustration of this over-sized   publication - (*) see picture at right - shows a variant state, with blue, instead of the red stripes of our version. - Ota Museum of Art, "Keisai Eisen ten, botsugo 150"; Tokyo, 1997; p. 36; col. ill. no. 99.

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