Posted by Nils U. Bosshard on December 28, 1998 at 03:12:16:
I have a print by Kunisada from the series "Tosei bijin awase" (around 1830) of which I have found two other prints in the literature titeled "Odori-shisho" (dance instructress) and the other "Edo geisha". My print has the title "Machigei" which I translated in Street-Art or "street artist" - the typical attributes depicted in an inset look like a staple of kimonos.
Would that be a polite name for a prostitute or were there other arts performed in the streets?
Nils