Courtier and Two Ladies of the Court, with a Poem by Mibu no Tadamine - Rekisentei Eiri

A refined Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Rekisentei Eiri, featuring a courtier and two ladies alongside a classical poem by Mibu no Tadamine.

This woodblock print by Rekisentei Eiri depicts a scene of refined social interaction, typical of the late eighteenth-century Ukiyo-e tradition. The composition features a courtier seated on the floor, holding a brush, while two ladies of the court observe him. The figures are rendered with the elongated proportions and graceful, flowing lines characteristic of Eiri's work, which often focused on the aesthetic of the pleasure quarters and aristocratic life.

The inclusion of a poem by Mibu no Tadamine, a Heian-period poet, links the print to the classical literary tradition of the Hyakunin Isshu, or the One Hundred Poets, One Poem each. The text is contained within a cloud-like cartouche at the top of the frame, a common device in Japanese prints to integrate calligraphy with visual narrative. The figures wear elaborate kimono with subtle, repeating patterns, and their hairstyles are styled in the fashion of the Edo period. The artist employs a muted colour palette, relying on soft ochres, muted reds, and ink-black lines to define the forms. The spatial arrangement is flat, prioritising the decorative quality of the garments and the calligraphic flow of the lines over three-dimensional depth. This print offers a glimpse into the cultural synthesis of the Edo era, where contemporary fashion and classical poetry were frequently combined in popular art forms. The presence of the writing implements suggests a moment of creative composition, reflecting the high value placed on literacy and artistic skill among the elite classes of the time.