Eishōsai Chōki

Eishōsai Chōki (Japanese: 栄松斎 長喜), also known as Momokawa Chōki, was a designer of ukiyo-e style Japanese woodblock prints who was active from about 1786 to 1808. He, along with Utamaro, was a pupil of Toriyama Sekien (1712–1788). Chōki is best known for his pictures of beautiful slender women (bijin-ga), often with atmospheric backgrounds.

New Year's Sunrise, colour woodblock print, 1790
In this Japanese name, the surname is Eishōsai.

The artist signed most of his works Chōki (長喜), he also signed some work Eishōsai (栄松斎) or Shikō (子興).

Life and career

The details of Chōki's life are obscure. He was likely a student—and possibly an adopted son—of Toriyama Sekien. Chōki specialized in depicting beautiful women and had a number of art names: works signed Chōki were in the style similar to that of Kiyonaga, and those signed Shikō that of Utamaro.[1]

Chōki lived in the home of publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō, who published several of Chōki's print series. Amongst Chōki's more popular series were the Eight Views of Lake Ōmi (Ōmi hakkei) and the Eight Views of the Treasury of Loyal Retainers (Chūshingura hakkei). He also produced hashira-e pillar prints, kachō-e prints of birds and flowers, and book illustrations. His last known work is the illustrations for the book Nakoso Gate (Nakoso no seki) by Kanwatei Onitake in 1809.[1]

  • Works by Eishōsai Chōki
  • Most Splendid Entertainment of the Niwaka Festival in the Licensed Quarters
    Most Splendid Entertainment of the Niwaka Festival in the Licensed Quarters
  • The Courtesan Tsuruno-o of the Tsuruya Brothel with her Attendants c. 1795–1801
    The Courtesan Tsuruno-o of the Tsuruya Brothel with her Attendants c. 1795–1801
  • The Courtesan Hinazuru of the Chojiya Brothel with her Kamuro Tsuruji and Tsuruno and Two Unidentified Shinzo
    The Courtesan Hinazuru of the Chojiya Brothel with her Kamuro Tsuruji and Tsuruno and Two Unidentified Shinzo
  • Cat's Cradle
    Cat's Cradle
  • New Years Parade of the Beauties of the Green Houses
    New Years Parade of the Beauties of the Green Houses
  • The artist's signature: "Chōki ga" (left) and "Shikō hitsu" (right)
    The artist's signature: "Chōki ga" (left) and "Shikō hitsu" (right)

References
  1. Marks 2012, p. 82.

Works cited
  • Marks, Andreas (2012). Japanese Woodblock Prints: Artists, Publishers and Masterworks: 1680–1900. Tuttle Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4629-0599-7.

Further reading
  • Hiller, Jack (1960) "Choki: What is a Minor Artist?". In: The Japanese Print: A New Approach, Rutland, Tuttle. 94–101.
  • Lane, Richard. (1978). Images from the Floating World, The Japanese Print. Oxford: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192114471; OCLC 5246796
  • Newland, Amy Reigle. (2005). Hotei Encyclopedia of Japanese Woodblock Prints. Amsterdam: Hotei. ISBN 9789074822657; OCLC 61666175
  • Roberts, Laurance P. (1976). A Dictionary of Japanese Artists. New York: Weatherhill. ISBN 9780834801134; OCLC 2005932
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