Courtesan as Kinkō (Qin Gao), from the series Courtesans Viewed as the Immortals of Ressenden, One of Seven (Keisei mitate Ressenden, shichiban no uchi) c. 1824

Curator: Here we have Yashima Gakutei's "Courtesan as Kinkō (Qin Gao), from the series Courtesans Viewed as the Immortals of Ressenden, One of Seven." Editor: Well, isn't this just enchanting! There's a dreamy quality, a sort of quiet stillness despite the implied movement of the water. It feels almost like a reverie. Curator: Gakutei, who lived from 1786 to 1868, has placed a courtesan atop an enormous carp. It's a playful take on the legend of Qin Gao, a man who rode a carp to immortality. The series equates courtesans with immortals, which is fascinating. Editor: Yes, absolutely! It really highlights the interesting space these women occupied. They were both admired and ostracized, powerful and powerless. The fish is so literal, it almost reads as commentary. Curator: Perhaps a comment on transformation, social mobility, or even the illusory nature of reality. Each figure is riding a unique symbolic animal. Editor: It certainly gives one pause. Such an intriguing blend of fantasy and social commentary. Curator: Indeed, a delightful puzzle box of cultural meaning!