Spirit Summoner; Wild Geese Returning Home (Maboroshi; Rakugan) (right) and A Thin Veil of Clouds; Clearing Weather (Usugumo; Seiran) (left), from the series Eight Views of The Tale of Genji in the Floating World (Ukiyo Genji hakkei) 1797 - 1799

Chōbunsai Eishi created these two hanging scroll paintings with ink and color on silk. Their titles, 'Spirit Summoner; Wild Geese Returning Home' and 'A Thin Veil of Clouds; Clearing Weather,' suggest a connection to the natural world. Made in Japan, these pieces reflect the Edo period’s cultural emphasis on leisure and the arts. This era, marked by relative peace and economic growth under the Tokugawa shogunate, saw the flourishing of urban centers like Edo, modern-day Tokyo, and a vibrant merchant class with disposable income. The presence of the refined courtesans suggests a focus on the pleasure quarters and a celebration of feminine beauty, in line with the floating world aesthetic. Consider the way the artist uses visual codes, like seasonal motifs and symbolic objects, to create meaning. Scholarly resources on the Edo period and Ukiyo-e art would offer valuable context for interpreting these works. Through historical analysis, we understand how art both reflects and shapes the social fabric of its time.