Sotoba (The Stupa) - Isoda Koryūsai

A refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai, depicting two women in a garden setting from the series Seven Fashionable Komachi.

This woodblock print by Isoda Koryūsai belongs to the series Seven Fashionable Komachi, a creative adaptation of the traditional Seven Komachi theme. In classical Japanese literature, the poet Ono no Komachi is the subject of seven famous Nō plays. Koryūsai reimagines these narratives by placing contemporary Edo-period figures into the roles of the legendary poet, blending historical allusion with the fashion and leisure activities of his own time.

The scene depicts two women in a relaxed outdoor setting, likely a tea house or garden. One figure stands while the other sits upon a bench, both engaged in the act of smoking from long pipes. The smoke curls upwards in a fluid, calligraphic line, providing a visual connection between the two subjects. The artist employs a refined colour palette, utilising muted earth tones for the clothing and ground, contrasted by the bold, warm orange of the cherry blossom tree in the background. The composition is balanced, with the figures occupying the foreground and the tree providing a decorative frame.

Koryūsai was a prolific artist who transitioned from a samurai background to become a master of the ukiyo-e style. He is particularly noted for his contributions to the bijin-ga genre, which focuses on images of beautiful women. His work often displays a delicate line quality and a sophisticated approach to pattern, as seen in the kimono designs worn by the women in this print. The series Seven Fashionable Komachi demonstrates his ability to synthesise classical themes with the popular culture of the late eighteenth century. This print offers a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the Edo period, where the appreciation of beauty, fashion, and leisure was central to urban life.