Japanese Woodblock Print, originally published 1880 by Murataya Jirobei, this is a Showa era edition printed from recarved woodblocks

SIZE IN INCHES: ohosoban, 6.75 x 14.25 inches

COMMENTS: The full title of this print is "Tosei bijin san'yu" from the series "Three Amusements of Contemporary Beauties". The "san yu" of the title may mean "three amusements" or "three pleasure quarters", but in either case the meaning is not terribly profound. We see a "town" geisha responding to a request by a client, and a woman from a tea house who has come to fetch her. They are hurrying to attend a party. The word "Yanagibashi" on the lantern indicates she is a geisha from the Yanagibashi district.

KITAGAWA UTAMARO, (1753-1806), was a Japanese printmaker and painter who was one of the greatest artists of the ukiyo-e movement; he is known especially for his masterfully composed portraits of sensuous female beauties.

Probably born in a provincial town, he went to Edo (now Tokyo) with his mother. There, under the name of Toyoaki, he started painting and designing rather unoriginal wood-block prints of women. He also occupied himself with nature studies and published many illustrated books, of which Gahon chusen (1788; Insects) is best known.

About 1791 Utamaro gave up designing prints for books and concentrated on making half-length single portraits of women rather than prints of women in groups as favored by other ukiyo-e artists. In 1804, at the height of his success, he made some prints depicting the military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife and concubines. Consequently, he was accused of insulting Hideyoshi's dignity and was ordered to be handcuffed for 50 days. The experience crushed him emotionally and ended his career as an artist. Among his best known works are the wood-block-print series Ten Physiognomies of Women, Twelve Hours at the Gay Quarters, The Seven Beauties of the Gay Quarters, and Women in Love.

Fine, no flaws