Contemporary Beauties of the Gay Quarters: Two Geisha of the Tachibana District and Young Man

The An'ei to Tenmei eras were the heyday of the pleasure quarters in Edo that were not licensed by the shogunate. The print series Contemporary Beauties of the Gay Quarters was created amidst this popularity, and its 21 prints depict the various customs of the beauties that populated districts such as Fukagawa and Nakasu. While not bearing a title within the image, this print has been provisionally titled Two Geisha of the Tachibana District and Young Man. The Tachibana district of Edo was known for its large population of geisha and thus can be characterized as a pleasure quarter. The two geisha holding hands and walking along is a figural motif seen in late 18th century beauty pictures by Kiyonaga and later artists.