Sugawara of the Tsuruya with Attendants Mumeno and Takeno c. 1787

This woodblock print, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, was created by Chōbunsai Eishi. It depicts Sugawara of the Tsuruya house, accompanied by Mumeno and Takeno. Eishi masterfully arranges these figures, playing with color and pattern to create a visually stimulating composition. The varied kimono designs, with their intricate geometric and floral motifs, draw the eye across the surface. Note how the vertical lines of the women's figures are offset by the horizontal bands of their garments. The print can be interpreted through the lens of semiotics. Each element, from the women's hairstyles to the patterns on their kimonos, functions as a signifier within a complex system of cultural codes. By carefully arranging these signs, Eishi constructs a narrative that speaks to the values and aesthetics of his time. It is also a representation of beauty standards where women were judged and rated in society. The work invites us to consider how artists use visual language to communicate ideas about beauty, status, and identity. This artwork challenges us to look beyond the surface and engage with the deeper structures of meaning embedded within the image.