WOODBLOCK PRINT

UTAMARO (1753~1806)

Writings in the print: 風流花之香遊　上 / ふうりゅうはなのかあそび /Elegant Pleasures: The Scent of Flowers, Item 1 of 2 Source

During the Tenmei era, perhaps because of the long period of imperial rule or a reflection of the lax politics of the time, people of Edo often enjoyed outdoor outings.
Utamaro paints a group of eight people, four in each painting. His ability is apparent in the arrangement of the figures, but his depiction of the figures still gives the impression of his youth as an artist, as is evident in the asymmetric depiction of the upper and lower bodies of the woman sitting on a stool in the picture on the right. Also, his youth is likely the reason why he was so careful to depict the clothing patterns that the depiction of the furisode kimono gives an impression of flatness. Source
“Four Women,” a print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicts four courtesans engaged in the “Four Elegant Accomplishments” within an Edo pleasure house, essentially parodying the traditional Chinese concept of refined cultural pursuits typically associated with educated men; this is a playful subversion where the women are shown mastering calligraphy, playing go, painting, and music, highlighting the evolving societal roles and expectations of women during the Edo period in Japan.

Utamaro studied painting under Sekien Toriyama’s (Toyofusa) guidance.

Utamaro named himself Toyoaki and changed this name to Utamaro.

He painted mostly actors’ portraits, flower and bird pictures in his earlier years and began to work on beautiful women and their customs: most models of these women were from those of the gay quarters.

Utamaro deplored the fact that only actors’ portraits were then popular, so he began to produce pictures of the well-known beautiful and popular young girls in Edo and the popular courtesans of the Yoshiwara gay quarters, in his unique and skillful technique of realism. His elegant style of painting gained great popularity with all the people of Edo city, present-day Tokyo.

Figures in half-length called “Ohkubi-e or big-head pictures”, were of his unique creation. Utamaro’s reputation swept all over Edo and his works were so overwhelmingly in fashion that many imitations also came to be produced. That is the reason why most of his prints have his own signature on them, for he made it a rule to sign his name, after imitation began to appear.

In the Kansei era, when there was political restoration, his works incurred the displeasure of the Tokugawa government and Utamaro was chastised by being handcuffed for 50 days. As a result of this punishment, he lay on his bed in over-all agony.

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KYOTO HANDICRAFT CENTER

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