Eishi

His early works were prints, mostly Bijin-ga portraits of tall, thin, graceful beauties in the original style established by himself akin to Kiyonaga and Utamaro.

Eishi was born Hosoda Tokitomi (細田 時富) in 1756 to a well-provided samurai family[a] that was part of the prestigious Fujiwara clan.

[3] His grandfather Hosoda Tokitoshi (細田 時敏) had held an influential position in the shogunate as Treasury Minister.

He remained unofficially in the Shōgun's service until 1789, and thereafter left his family in the hands of his adopted son Tokitoyo (時豊),[3] thereby giving up his samurai rank; he reasoned that his ill health did not permit him to continue with such duties.

The subjects are such literary fare as The Tale of Genji and are in subdued tones, as required by contemporary laws against ostentation.

He was a prolific painter of such standing that in 1800 a painting of his entered the collection of the cloistered Empress Go-Sakuramachi and he was granted the honorary title Jibukyō (治部卿).