Naniwaya Okita and Takashima Ohisa playing a game of ken
c. 1793-94
Former samurai turned artist Chōbunsai Eishi captures a playful moment between two famous Edo-period beauties, Naniwaya Okita and Takashima Ohisa, as they face off in a game of ken. This hand game, similar to rock-paper-scissors, is often played for sake, as hinted by the small cups and pot resting on the floor. The women sport incredibly elaborate hairstyles weighed down by numerous hairpins, a major fashion statement of the 1790s pleasure quarters. Above them, decorative curtains display family crests, highlighting the high status of these celebrated figures in a scene that blends elegant refinement with casual fun.
- Technique
- woodblock print
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