Elegant Fresh Foods (Three Courtesans at a Drinking Party)

Accession Number
1960/1.138

Title
Elegant Fresh Foods (Three Courtesans at a Drinking Party)

Artist(s)
Kikugawa Eizan

Object Creation Date
mid 1800s - circa 1810

Medium & Support
oban (large size) nishiki-e (full-color woodblock print) on paper

Dimensions
22 in. x 18 in. ( 55.9 cm x 45.7 cm )

Credit Line
Museum Purchase

Label copy
Gallery Rotation Fall 2013
Kikugawa Eizen
Japan, 1787–1867
Elegant Fresh Foods
Edo period (1615–1868)
mid 1800s-1810s
Color woodblock print on paper
Museum purchase, 1960/1.138

Subject matter
All the senses are aroused by this image of three women engaged in a playful drinking game. The setting is an open veranda in early spring, when cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The party scene is complete—except perhaps for the male client who has paid for it all. Male viewers of the print no doubt preferred to imagine themselves in that role. Eizan is from the same group of printmakers as Ichirakutei Eisui, and the elongated faces are typical of their prints.

Physical Description
Three courtesans engaged in a drinking game sit in an open veranda in early spring, with cherry blossoms in full bloom behind them. The women appear tipsy, and the one at the right clings to her companion in the middle for support, as she stretches out her left hand to have her cup refilled with saké (rice wine). They have a tray of delicacies shamisen at their feet.

Primary Object Classification
Print

Primary Object Type
color print

Collection Area
Asian

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
Ukiyo-e
courtesans

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted