Eizan Kikugawa (1787-1867)

Eizan Kikugawa emerged from the shadow of the artist Utamaro, initially dismissed as a mere imitator but now revered as one of the great masters of beauty prints. Born into a family of artists, he developed his craft under the guidance of his father, Kikugawa Eiji, and later studied with prominent ukiyo-e artists such as Suzuki Nanrei and Totoya Hokkei. Eizan's early works closely resembled Utamaro's style, but he gradually developed his own expressive approach to depicting beautiful women (bijin-ga), characterised by harmonious colours and graceful lines. Despite being left-handed, an uncommon trait in Japan at the time, Eizan's artistic skill flourished, earning him recognition as the foremost proponent of classical ukiyo-e aesthetics in bijin-ga prints. Despite living an unfortunate life marked by loneliness in his later years, Eizan's legacy endures through his enchanting compositions that continue to captivate audiences.

Sigantures: Kikukawa Eizan hitsu (left), Jūkusai Eizan hitsu (right)