Kitagawa Utamaro

Japanese, 1753-1806

Kitagawa Utamaro was a Japanese artist. He is one of the most highly regarded designers of ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings, and is best known for his bijin ōkubi-e "large-headed pictures of beautiful women" of the 1790s. He also produced nature studies, particularly illustrated books of insects.

Little is known of Utamaro's life. His work began to appear in the 1770s, and he rose to prominence in the early 1790s with his portraits of beauties with exaggerated, elongated features. He produced over 2000 known prints and was one of the few ukiyo-e artists to achieve fame throughout Japan in his lifetime. In 1804 he was arrested and manacled for fifty days for making illegal prints depicting the 16th-century military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and died two years later.

Utamaro's work reached Europe in the mid-nineteenth century, where it was very popular, enjoying particular acclaim in France. He influenced the European Impressionists, particularly with his use of partial views and his emphasis on light and shade, which they imitated. The reference to the "Japanese influence" among these artists often refers to the work of Utamaro.

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The Hairdresser

The Hairdresser (1790)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Wandering Women

Wandering Women (circa 1790)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

The Widow of Asahiya

The Widow of Asahiya (between 1795 and 1796)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Hinakoto of Hyōgorō

Hinakoto of Hyōgorō (circa 1795)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Rikomono (Know-it-all)

Rikomono (Know-it-all) (1767-1806)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Untitled

Untitled

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House

Courtesan Hanaogi of the Ogiya House (1793)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Hairdresser (Kamiyui)

Hairdresser (Kamiyui) (c.1797-98)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsuba Establishment

The Courtesan Ichikawa of the Matsuba Establishment (1796)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Two Beauties with Bamboo

Two Beauties with Bamboo (circa 1795)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

A woman looking at her reflection in a mirror

A woman looking at her reflection in a mirror (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Arai-bari – Washing and stretching cloth

Arai-bari – Washing and stretching cloth (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Chichi – About to breastfeed

Chichi – About to breastfeed (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Chûbon no zu – Picture of the middle class

Chûbon no zu – Picture of the middle class (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Daidokoro – Kitchen scene

Daidokoro – Kitchen scene (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Gebon no zu – Picture of the lower class

Gebon no zu – Picture of the lower class (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Gion-dôfu – Gion bean curd

Gion-dôfu – Gion bean curd (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Hari-shigoto – Needlework

Hari-shigoto – Needlework (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Hata-ori – Weaving on a loom

Hata-ori – Weaving on a loom (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Horo-gaya – Mosquito net for a baby

Horo-gaya – Mosquito net for a baby (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Jôbon no zu – Picture of the upper class

Jôbon no zu – Picture of the upper class (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Kami-yui – Dressing the hair

Kami-yui – Dressing the hair (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Kami-yui – Hairdresser

Kami-yui – Hairdresser (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Kingyo – Goldfish

Kingyo – Goldfish (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Kiseru o motsu onna – Woman holding a pipe

Kiseru o motsu onna – Woman holding a pipe (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Kuchi-beni – Painting the lips

Kuchi-beni – Painting the lips (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Mimeguri no dote – The embankment at Mimeguri

Mimeguri no dote – The embankment at Mimeguri (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Mitate gosho-guruma – Parody of an imperial carriage scene

Mitate gosho-guruma – Parody of an imperial carriage scene (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Nan’eki ha-jirushi – Ha…of the Southern Station

Nan’eki ha-jirushi – Ha…of the Southern Station (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

Nibijin ude-zumô – Arm-wrestling between two beauties

Nibijin ude-zumô – Arm-wrestling between two beauties (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)

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