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

Chōbunsai Eishi created this woodblock print titled ‘Beauties Parodying the Seven Sages - A Selection of Younger Courtesans: Mitsuito of the Hyogoya’ without a specified date. The artwork offers a serene composition dominated by soft colours and gentle lines. The print employs a subtle interplay of geometric forms and organic motifs. Note how the rectangles of the architectural elements contrast with the flowing lines of the courtesan's robes, adorned with organic patterns. The composition invites a reading that intersects with structuralism. The courtesans, symbols of earthly pleasure, engage in activities traditionally associated with scholarly pursuits, blurring the lines between social categories. This subversion is further emphasized by the parody of the Seven Sages, figures revered for their wisdom. The print challenges fixed meanings. It employs a semiotic system where signs, like the musical instrument and tea set, function not as mere objects but as cultural codes reflecting the complex interplay of pleasure, knowledge, and social critique. It encourages us to view art as an evolving dialogue with tradition and societal norms.