Head of a Beauty 1815 - 1835

Keisai Eisen created this woodblock print, Head of a Beauty, sometime in the 19th century. The pale face, framed by dark hair and a patterned kimono, dominates the composition, inviting a close and intimate viewing experience. Eisen masterfully employs line and color to create a striking contrast, with the stark white of the woman’s skin sharply juxtaposed against the intricate details of her black hair and the muted tones of her clothing. The composition is carefully structured. Note the placement of the face in relation to the frame. Eisen directs our focus through the use of a limited color palette and stylized forms, typical of ukiyo-e prints. This formal reduction emphasizes the artificiality of beauty, reflecting a broader cultural interest in the semiotics of appearance and the performative aspects of identity within the structured social hierarchy of Edo-period Japan. It is through the very artifice of the image, that we glimpse at the complex interplay between representation and reality.