葛飾北斎の三女で、名前はお栄といいました。生まれた年も亡くなった年もはっきりしません。一度は絵師と結婚しましたが、のちに北斎のもとにもどり、父の仕事を手伝いながら自分の作品も描きました。夜の吉原を、ちょうちんの光と影のコントラストで描いた《吉原格子先之図》は、まるで西洋の油絵のような光の表現でおどろかせます。
Ōi was Hokusai's third daughter, and her name was Ei. We do not know exactly when she was born or died. She married a painter once but later returned to her father. She helped with his work and also made her own. Her Night Scene in the Yoshiwara shows the glow of lanterns against deep shadows, with light that feels almost like a Western oil painting.
