A Tokaido Courtesans Board Game

Keisai Eisen (1790 - 1848) was renowned for his exquisite bijin-ga paintings of beautiful women and landscapes. In collaboration with Hiroshige, he gained recognition for his involvement in the creation of the series "69 stations of the Nakasendo". Another notable series by Eisen is "A Tokaido Board Game of Courtesans, Fifty-three Pairings in the Yoshiwara", which cleverly incorporated landscape elements to showcase courtesans and geisha, bypassing censorship restrictions. This series was published from 1821 to 1823.

Eisen's bijin-ga works are considered as masterpieces of the "decadent" Bunsei Era (1818–1830). His paintings often feature women with elaborate hairdos adorned with numerous decorative hairpins and combs. The attire of the women in his art is depicted as extravagant, featuring intricate patterns and detailed embroideries. The faces of these women are characterized by elongated squares, long noses, and small, delicately painted mouths.

In the context of the Yoshiwara district, courtesans were highly sought-after not only for their physical beauty but also for the opulent and luxurious garments they wore. In fact, the names of these courtesans functioned as trademarks, representing a series of women fulfilling a specific role within a particular brothel.

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