Nippori Keinai Ebisu-Daikoku

Art Historical Context

This elegant woodblock print by Torii Kiyonaga captures a lively moment at a tea house near Nippori in Edo-period Japan. Created around 1793, the work belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition, which celebrated the fleeting pleasures of urban life—beautiful women, seasonal outings, and social gatherings. Kiyonaga, a leading artist of the time, specialized in *bijin-ga*, or pictures of graceful women, and here he portrays figures enjoying drinks in a relaxed outdoor setting, evoking the cheerful atmosphere of Edo’s popular entertainment districts. The title referencesisu and Daikoku, two of the Seven Lucky Gods often associated with prosperity and good fortune, suggesting the scene may allude to a festive or auspicious occasion. Printed with ink and color on paper using the woodblock technique, the small format (roughly postcard-sized) made such images affordable and widely circulated among townspeople. These prints served as both souvenirs and windows into contemporary fashion and customs. Kiyonaga’s refined lines and balanced compositions helped elevate ukiyo-e from simple illustrations to sophisticated art. Today, this piece in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection offers a charming glimpse into the social world of late-eighteenth-century Tokyo.

About the Artist

Torii Kiyonaga · 1752–1815

Torii Kiyonaga, born Sekiguchi Shinsuke in 1752 in Uraga, Sagami Province, was the son of an Edo bookseller who owned tenements near a bustling fish market. At age 14 in 1765, he began his apprenticeship under Torii Kiyomitsu, the third-generation head of the prestigious Torii school of ukiyo-e, renowned for kabuki theater illustrations and signage. Adopted into the Torii family, Kiyonaga succeede...