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Chōki

Act. c. 1780–1809

Family name: Momokawa. Artist names: Shikō, Chōki. Art name: Eishōsai.

Not many details are known about Chōki’s life. He is considered a student of Toriyama Sekien (1712–1788), possibly his adopted son. He went through a number of name changes and started his career as a print designer as Shikō. In the early 1780s he changed his artist name to Chōki, but used Shikō again between c.1796 and 1801, before returning to Chōki in the last years of activity. Both names indicate a different style, whereas works signed with Chōki are reminiscent of Torii Kiyonaga, Shikō signed works tend to be more like Utamaro but with a strong personal touch. Chōki produced mainly portraits of beautiful women and only a few actor prints that are stylistically similar to Sharaku’s. In the late 1780s he produced two chūban series, each related to the popular theme of the “Eight Views.” One illustrates the “Eight Views of Lake ōmi” (ōmi hakkei), the other juxtaposes the popular story “Treasury of Loyal Retainers” to the “Eight Views” and is titled thereafter “Eight Views of the Treasury of Loyal Retainers” (Chūshingura hakkei). Chōki also did “pillar prints” (hashira-e) and pictures of flowers and birds (kachō-e), and between 1789 and 1809, illustrated several books. It is known that he lodged with the publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō, who produced most of his series. Other important publishers of the less than a dozen he worked for are Iwatoya Kisaburō and Tsuruya Kiemon.

Chōki’s last known works are illustrations in the book “Nakoso Gate” (Nakoso no seki) from 1809, written by Kanwatei Onitake (1760–1818).

Early 1800s “Clearing mist at Awazu” (Awazu seiran), from the series “Eight Views of Lake ōmi” (ōmi hakkei). Chūban. National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Late 1790s “Act 7” (Shichidanme), from the series “The Treasury of Loyal Retainers” (Chūshingura). 12.5 x 12.8 cm (4.9 x 5 in.). National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Late 1790s “The courtesan Hinazuru and her attendants Tsuruji and Tsuruno from the Chōjiya” (Chōjiya uchi Hinazuru, Tsuruji, Tsuruno).. ōban. Publisher: Murataya Jirōbei. National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Early 1800s Parable of good versus evil, guest in a brothel. (Right sheet of an untitled triptych). ōban. Publisher: Tsutaya Jūzaburō. National Museum of Ethnology, Leiden, The Netherlands.