Takigawa of the Ogiya

Yamaguchi Chūemon published some two dozen prints in the series Contest of Beauties in the Pleasure Quarters. At least nineteen are designs by Eishō, with three others by Eiri and one by Eichō. Together, this grand series portrays courtesans from the ten topranked Ōmagaki brothels in the Yoshiwara district and four from the Hanmagaki houses, ranked a level below. The beauties are shown in the ōkubi-e format of close-up portraits, first used for female subjects by Utamaro during the early 1790s.
Eisho’s teacher, Chōbunsai Eishi, moved the ōkubi-e in a subtly new direction by emphasizing the smiling or laughing countenances of beauties. Like his teacher, Eishō was adept at projecting images of carefree pleasure. Here, Takigawa of the prosperous Ōgiya brothel lifts a cup of sake—she is shown in the midst of drinking with a client. Her raised brows and open mouth express her tipsy delight, while the knuckles of one hand are raised to her chin in a coquettish gesture. Adding energy to the scene are her boldly patterned robes, the collar of her inner garment, which stands stiffly to attention at her neck, and bristling hair ornaments that jut across the title cartouche to the right.
Though worn, the background in this print shows traces of its original blue coloring.