76 - Eishô: Motozue of the Daimonjiya

Eishô: Motozue of the Daimonjiya

This is an okubi-e by Chôkôsai Eishô (active approximately 1780-1800) - Motozue of the Daimonjiya, from the series Contest of Beauties of the Pleasure Quarters (Kakuchû bijin kurabe), from 1795-1797.

Eishô created several beautiful bijinga in the form of okubi-e. This picture, a portrait of a courtesan, is made extra interesting by the addition of a cat as a contrast to the face.

36 - Kuniyoshi: The Okazaki Cat Demon

Kuniyoshi: The Okazaki Cat Demon, about 1850

Utagawa Kuniyoshi loved cats and made innumerable prints with various cat motives. Here he combines cats with yakusha-e. This is a scene from a Kabuki play by Tsururya Namboku IV, "Okazaki Ghost Cat", from 1827. The print was made about 1850, and is called The Okazaki Cat Demon.