Shunga by Eisen published in C.1840

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This is an authentic Ukiyo-e by Eisen Keisai (1790-1848)

In this piece Eisen has illustrated a typical scene in a "house of pleasure", in the background one can see a party scene through the shoji (paper sliding doors) with two attendants about to join the frey. In the forground there is a man and woman tightly embrasing one another.

The scene is set in spring indicated by the blossoming sakura tree (cherry blossom).

The condition of this print is very good, and one couldn't ask for more in the print quality either. There are silver metalic pigments used in the kimono of the 3 Geishas seen in the print, that the photos can not quite pick up.

This picture measures approximately 26cm by 18cm (not including the margin) and has no indication of any restoration or damage.

Keisai Eisen was born in Edo (present Tokyo). His art study started at an early age.
Eisen's works are mostly beauty prints depicting courtesans and shunga, or erotic prints. His animated images of beautiful women rival the works of another ukiyoe master Kunisada (Toyokuni III). Yet Eisen's prints are plainer in colours compare to Kunisada's vividly colourful designs and the uses of quiet colours make Eisen's beauty images appear somewhat mysterious and erotic. Eisen was a free, unrestrained man who lived a dissipated life – wandering about, drinking heavily, writing comic poems. The artist wrote in one of his books that he ran a brothel in Edo.