{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O71698"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O71698/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX8354/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2024NX8354/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2024NX8354","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2006AM5960","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GG4924","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2013GG4392","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017KE2000","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O71698/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O71698","accessionNumber":"E.1414-1898","objectType":"Woodblock print","titles":[{"title":"The Courtesan Yosooi","type":""}],"summaryDescription":"<b>Object Type</b><br>Japanese woodblock prints were commercial productions made for popular consumption. They were made by artists, block cutters and printers working independently to the instructions of specialist publishers. Pictures of beautiful women served as guides to and souvenirs of the faces and changing hair- and dress-styles of the women who worked in the pleasure quarters of Edo (modern Tokyo). The sophistication of the block-carving and printing techniques used in this print is reflected in the depiction of the see-through fan and the translucent horn hair comb.<br><br><b>Places</b><br>The main pleasure quarter in Edo was the Yoshiwara. It was a separate district with its own gates. It contained numerous teahouses and brothels frequented by wealthy townspeople during their leisure hours.<br><br><b>Time</b><br>This print was published in Edo before commercial and diplomatic ties were established between Japan and western nations in the mid to late 1850s. During the second half of the 19th century large numbers of prints were exported to Europe and the United States. They were avidly sought out by western collectors, artists and designers, and played a major role in the development of 'Japonisme' and then art nouveau.","physicalDescription":"Yosooi was one of the courtesans at Matsuba-ya in Yoshiwara, the pleasure quarters of Tokyo. The artist captures the woman's portrait at the moment she turns her head towards him. The extent to which the techniques of carving and printing had advanced are evident in the superior depiction of the courtesan's diaphanous fan.\r\nOban size","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Eisho, Chokosai","id":"A8365"},"association":{"text":"artist","id":"AAT25103"},"note":""},{"name":{"text":"Ch–emon, Yamaguchiya","id":"A8243"},"association":{"text":"publisher","id":"x32600"},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"paper (fiber product)","id":"AAT14109"}],"techniques":[{"text":"block printing","id":"AAT53289"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Colour print from woodblocks","categories":[{"text":"Prints","id":"THES48903"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"EAS","id":"THES48596"},"images":["2024NX8354","2006AM5960","2013GG4924","2013GG4392","2017KE2000"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES393693"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Woodblock print","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Japan","id":"x29399"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"late 1790s","earliest":"1795-01-01","latest":"1799-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"39.8","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"28.6","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"","value":"","unit":"","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"Signed 'Eisho do Eisho ga' ('Drawn by Eisho of the Eisho Hall')","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":"A8877"},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":""}],"objectHistory":"Purchased from Wright and Stanford, accessioned in 1898. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project.\nMade in Edo (present day Tokyo), Japan by Chokosai Eisho (active 179-18); published by Yamaguchiya Ch–emon","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Print: Eisho: 'The Courtesan Yosooi', Japanese, late 1790s","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"British Galleries:\nWOODBLOCK PRINTS<br>\nJapanese woodblock prints were avidly collected in the late 19th century.  To a Victorian audience they revealed a different world depicted in an entirely new way. The style, composition and subject matter of the prints had a huge influence on artists working in Britain.","date":{"text":"27/03/2003","earliest":"2003-03-27","latest":"2003-03-27"}}],"partNumbers":["E.1414-1898"],"accessionNumberNum":"1414","accessionNumberPrefix":"E","accessionYear":1898,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LP7845","2019LR4186","2019LV0332"],"recordModificationDate":"2026-01-31","recordCreationDate":"2002-12-08","availableToBook":true}}