{"product_id":"courtesan-seated-on-a-carp-yashima-gakutei","title":"Courtesan Seated on a Carp - Yashima Gakutei","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined Japanese woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei, depicting a courtesan seated on a carp, characteristic of the luxurious surimono style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Yashima Gakutei belongs to the surimono genre, a category of privately commissioned prints often exchanged among poets and artists. Surimono are known for their technical refinement, frequently employing expensive pigments, embossing, and metallic dust to achieve a luxurious finish. Gakutei, a student of Totoya Hokkei and Katsushika Hokusai, was a master of this medium, often integrating classical Japanese literature with visual allegory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition depicts a courtesan perched atop a large carp, a creature associated with strength and perseverance in East Asian folklore. The figure is dressed in a patterned kimono, her hair styled with traditional ornaments. She holds a scroll, suggesting a connection to the literary circles that commissioned such works. The background features a subtle, repeating pattern of cranes, which adds a layer of symbolic depth to the print. The use of embossing on the carp scales and the waves provides a tactile quality, typical of the high production standards found in Gakutei's work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a practitioner of the Ukiyo-e school, Gakutei demonstrates a command of line and colour balance. The print avoids excessive ornamentation, allowing the interplay between the figure and the mythical fish to remain the primary focus. The inclusion of calligraphy, or kyoka (humorous verse), is a standard feature of surimono, linking the visual imagery to the specific cultural interests of the patron. This piece offers a glimpse into the sophisticated aesthetic preferences of the Edo period literati, who valued the fusion of poetry and graphic art. The print remains a clear example of the technical precision achieved by Japanese printmakers during the early nineteenth century, reflecting the collaborative nature of artistic production in the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/courtesan-with-attendants-boy-and-maid-in-the-rain-under-an-umbrella-ryuryukyo-shinsai\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eCourtesan with Attendants, Boy and Maid, in the Rain Under an Umbrella by Ryūryūkyo Shinsai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/twelve-hours-of-spring-pleasures-hour-of-the-goat-utagawa-kunisada\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eTwelve Hours of Spring Pleasures: Hour of the Goat by Utagawa Kunisada\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Yashima Gakutei","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115630461263,"sku":null,"price":37.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115636687183,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59115636719951,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115636752719,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115636785487,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Small Square (30x30 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115636818255,"sku":null,"price":59.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115636851023,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115636883791,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Medium Square (40x40 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115636916559,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59115636949327,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59115636982095,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ Large Square (50x50 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59115637014863,"sku":null,"price":99.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Courtesan-Seated-on-a-Carp_Poster_CompositorV1_1791938998758.jpg?v=1791947589","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/courtesan-seated-on-a-carp-yashima-gakutei","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}