Tsuragamae (Countenance): Ukiyo-e Painter Torii Kiyonaga and Ukiyo-e Publisher Nishimuraya Yohachi 

Tsuragamae is a series that became artist Kataoka Tamako’s lifework from the age of 61 to 100. It was an attempt to depict people by focusing on the structure of their faces (which in Japanese she describes as their tsuragamae). In this work, on the right is Nishimuraya Yohachi of the Edo Period (1603–1868) print publisher (now a book publisher) Eijudo, and on the left is Torii Kiyonaga, an ukiyo-e artist who made a name for himself with pictures of beautiful women painted in accordance with the Western “8-heads” canon of proportion (whereby the body measures eight times the height of the head). A popular young painter wearing a flashy kimono that speaks to the strength of his convictions, Kiyonaga faces off against the elderly publisher whose haori jacket is adorned with the character “ju,” meaning “longevity” (and which also appears in the name Eijudo). From the way they grimace at each other you can just imagine a battle of wills is unfolding over their next publication. The picture clearly conveys the totality of the energy of an artist who is fascinated by human beings.
(HIBINO Miyon)