( fl c. 1780–early 1800s). Japanese painter and woodblock-print designer. He is thought to have studied under Toriyama Sekien (1712–88), the teacher of KITAGAWA UTAMARO. Choki specialized in compositions of beautiful women (bijinga), sometimes with little or no background but more often with atmospheric backgrounds in which there is a limited sense of depth. He was influenced by Utamaro, Torii Kiyonaga (see TORII, (8)) and TOSHUSAI SHARAKU, but developed his own style of tall, slender figure. He left a number of superbly printed designs. Choki was particularly skilful at depicting half-length figures; many of his best designs are compositions of two such half-length figures. Examples include the colour woodblock-print Girl with an Umbrella and a Servant (c. mid-1790s; e.g. Tokyo, N. Mus.), with a background of falling snow and, in the foreground, a girl holding an umbrella and leaning on the back of her manservant as he bends to (presumably) clear the snow from her sandal. In Hunting Fireflies (c. mid-1790s; Honolulu, HI, Acad. A.) a young woman and a male child engage in the summer pastime of catching fireflies at night. The composition includes irises in bloom, a pond and fireflies lighting up a dark background. Although not all of Choki’s colour woodblock prints reach this quality in design or execution, his best works are well regarded for their composition, colour, atmospheric effects and skilful printing techniques. Some scholars believe that Choki may have used the art name Shiko, others that this may be the signature of a different print designer.

• Eishosai Choki
  • works
    • Japan, §IX, 3(i)(b): Prints, Edo period and after: Decorative techniques
    • Japan, §IX, 3(iii)(c): Prints, c 1780–c 1800
    • Japan, §IX, 3(iii)(d): Prints and books: Edo period: prints and after: Historical development: c. 1800–c. 1820