{"product_id":"looking-tasty-the-appearance-of-a-courtesan-during-the-kaei-era-tsukioka-yoshitoshi","title":"Looking tasty - The appearance of a courtesan during the Kaei era - Tsukioka Yoshitoshi","description":"\u003cp\u003eA woodblock print by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi from the series 'Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners', depicting a courtesan dining during the Kaei era.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print belongs to the series 'Thirty-two Aspects of Customs and Manners' (Fuzoku sanjuniso), produced by Tsukioka Yoshitoshi in 1888. The series examines the changing social conditions and aesthetic preferences of Japanese women across different historical periods. This specific image depicts a courtesan from the Kaei era (1848-1854), captured in a moment of casual dining. She holds a piece of tempura with chopsticks, her expression thoughtful as she gazes away from the viewer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition employs the characteristic flat perspective of the Ukiyo-e tradition, yet Yoshitoshi introduces a psychological depth through the subject's posture and the subtle rendering of her features. The striped pattern of her kimono provides a rhythmic visual element that contrasts with the solid, muted background. A pale moon hangs in the upper left corner, a recurring motif in Yoshitoshi's work that adds a sense of atmosphere to the scene. The inclusion of cartouches containing calligraphy and red seals is typical of the period, providing context regarding the series title and the specific era being referenced.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYoshitoshi is often regarded as the last great master of the Ukiyo-e genre. His work bridges the gap between traditional Japanese printmaking and the modern influences arriving from the West during the Meiji period. By focusing on the specific manners and fashions of the Kaei era, he documents a vanishing world. The print demonstrates his technical skill in line work and his ability to convey character through gesture. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on soft blues, greys, and the warm yellow of the moon to create a balanced visual experience. This print offers a window into the domestic lives of women in nineteenth-century Japan, presented with the precision and observation that define Yoshitoshi's later career.\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=\"\/sv\/products\/moon-pine-in-ueno-utagawa-hiroshige\" 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;\"\u003eMoon Pine in Ueno - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/nihonbashi-from-the-series-thirty-six-views-of-the-eastern-capital-utagawa-hiroshige-ii\" 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;\"\u003eNihonbashi, from the series Thirty-six Views of the Eastern Capital - Utagawa Hiroshige II — Utagawa Hiroshige II\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Yoshitoshi","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58889640444239,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58889645424975,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58889645457743,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58889645490511,"sku":null,"price":50.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58889645523279,"sku":null,"price":55.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Looking-tasty-The-appearance-of-a-courtesan-during-the-Kaei-era_Poster_CompositorV1_1790389097860.jpg?v=1790390065","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/looking-tasty-the-appearance-of-a-courtesan-during-the-kaei-era-tsukioka-yoshitoshi","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}