Mitate Meisho: Cherry Blossoms

The artist behind my print was Eisen Keisai. Eisen (1790-1848) was an artist and writer known for his prints of beautiful women. He later gained fame in the Bunsei period (1818-1830) for his okubi-e ("large head pictures"). He collaborated with Hiroshige and wrote the biographies of the Forty-seven Ronin. His prints are usually noticed by how openly sensual they are.

This print titled in Mitate Meisho: Sakura no Tubone (Mitate Meisho: Cherry Blossoms) shows a woman relaxing on either a roof or a set of stairs. She is in a kimono that has layers of blue and pink and she has many things in her hair which gives her the appearance of being important. The stairs seems to be on clouds rather on any building. The woman seems to have her gaze averted from the viewer at something unseen. Her left hand is in a position where is looks as if she is clutching herself in protection. She also has one hair out of place on her forehead in contrast with the rest of the hair which is all contained. Her gaze and body language imply that is she is surprised by something that its unseen to the viewer. In the background, there is a cherry tree in bloom which shows that it is mid-spring. Also in the background is a source of water and on the left are some rolling hills with a few green trees. I think that this print was in the genre of bijin-e (beautiful women). I think this print was to show how she is riding on the clouds in pleasure, very similar to the name of ukiyo-e or the floating world. She appears to be floating on a cloud of pleasure rather than being on the ground.

The focus in this print seems to be the woman since everything else is very far from the viewer. The face of the woman seems rather typical and her gaze does not face the viewer, it is off somewhere not in the print. The woman's focus is very different from the viewers. She seems really detached from the rest of the picture. This picture is not part of a triptych but it seems as if it could. I think this print is a oban rather than a chuban. This print does not come across as realistic because of the woman sitting on the clouds. Also that the clouds are about the same height as the boats and trees.

This print's quality is good, but it has some flaws. The paper seemed stained and faded. The paper is browning or yellowing. Also in the white space there is bad staining and shows the age of the print. The colors seems to stay in the lines instead of spreading out. The lines seem rather sharp, because the lines in her hair are rather significant especially the one strand of hair on her forehead. The colors of blue and pink are definitely brighter but they have become dull from the age of the print.

This print gives the viewer a feeling of relaxation over all. The calm waters of the seas and the pleasant views of the cherry blossoms give an feeling of relaxation. The woman provides some resistance to this thought by her expression and body position. Also she gives a bit of sensuality to the print with the small glimpses of her leg and neck. The woman seems in almost stark contrast with the rest of the print with her many emotions struck by her presence. I think the print was to be made to show the floating world at its essence. It shows a woman among several markers of the natural world, but still float above it. The woman's expression and body language break this original idea. The one question that presents itself with this print is what is she looking that makes her fee as if she has to defend herself?