Beauties Parodying the Seven Sages - A Selection of Younger Courtesans (Shichi kenjin yatsushi bijin shinzo zoroe): Tokiuta of the Chojiya c. 1793

This woodblock print by Chōbunsai Eishi, made at an unknown date, presents a tableau of elegance and subtle critique. The composition immediately draws us in with its muted yet harmonious color palette. Soft yellows and gentle pinks dominate, creating a serene backdrop for the two figures. These are younger courtesans, their refined beauty offset by an underlying parody of the Seven Sages. The artist destabilizes conventional social roles by depicting the courtesans engaged in intellectual pursuits traditionally reserved for men. One reads intently, while the other delicately handles papers, perhaps poetry or correspondence. The semiotic system at play here invites us to question fixed meanings. Eishi employs an astute awareness of line and form, creating an intricate yet balanced composition. The artist challenges established values of gender and intellect, opening the artwork to ongoing interpretation.