A Brush with the Floating World: The Life and Art of Ikeda Teisai Ikeda Teisai (池田 貞哉, 1799 – 1859) emerged from the vibrant artistic landscape of Edo-period Tokyo as a significant figure in *ukiyo-e*, the “pictures of the floating world.” While not perhaps as universally recognized as some of his contemporaries like Hokusai or Hiroshige, Teisai’s contributions to portraiture and kabuki theater prints are nonetheless compelling, offering a fascinating glimpse into the cultural life of 19th-century Japan. Born in Tokyo, he dedicated his career to capturing the ephemeral beauty and dramatic en…