Courtesan- After Eisen

Courtesan (After Eisen), created in 1887, is Vincent van Gogh’s bold and colorful homage to Japanese art, inspired by a print by the ukiyo-e master Keisai Eisen. The work features a striking courtesan in elaborate robes, set against a vividly patterned background that includes motifs like cranes, frogs, and bamboo—symbols of beauty, nature, and exoticism.

Van Gogh painted this piece as the centerpiece of a special edition of Le Japon Illustré, reflecting his deep admiration for Japanese aesthetics and their influence on his own work. By reinterpreting Eisen’s print in oil with his expressive brushwork and intensified color, Van Gogh transformed the original into a vibrant, Western-Japanese fusion. Courtesan (After Eisen) is a testament to his fascination with Eastern art and its role in shaping his evolving modern style.