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Kitagawa Utamaro - Woman Reading a Letter (from the series Seven Episodes in the Life of Komachi in the Floating World)
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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.

More Artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro (View all 165 Artworks)

Yaoya Oshichi, Koshô Kichisaburô, Dozaemon Denkichi – Oshichi the greengrocer’s daughter, Kichisaburô the boy-servant and Dozaemon Denkichi

Yaoya Oshichi, Koshô Kichisaburô, Dozaemon Denkichi – Oshichi the greengrocer’s daughter, Kichisaburô the boy-servant and Dozaemon Denkichi (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Portrait of Beauty, Takigawa at Ôgi-ya

Portrait of Beauty, Takigawa at Ôgi-ya (late 18th century – ca. 1806)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Ogiya Hanaôgi – Hanaôgi of the Ôgiya (picture riddle)

Ogiya Hanaôgi – Hanaôgi of the Ôgiya (picture riddle) (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
The Courtesan Tsukioka of Hyogoya Rolling a Letter (from the series A Selection of Six Authors in the Green Houses)

The Courtesan Tsukioka of Hyogoya Rolling a Letter (from the series A Selection of Six Authors in the Green Houses) (late 1790s)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Chushingura: Act III of The Storehouse of Loyalty

Chushingura: Act III of The Storehouse of Loyalty (late 1790s)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Daimyō and his Retinue Crossing a Stream in Plain Near Fuji

Daimyō and his Retinue Crossing a Stream in Plain Near Fuji (1753-1806)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Chushingura: Act XI of The Storehouse of Loyalty

Chushingura: Act XI of The Storehouse of Loyalty (late 1790s)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Chichi – About to breastfeed

Chichi – About to breastfeed (1793-1804)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Wandering Women

Wandering Women (circa 1790)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Head of Woman Holding Towel in Her Mouth

Head of Woman Holding Towel in Her Mouth (late 18th century – ca. 1806)

Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, 1753-1806)
Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Sekiya, Teriha – Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya, Sekiya, Teriha

Tamaya uchi Hanamurasaki, Sekiya, Teriha – Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya, Sekiya, Teriha (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)
Kuchi-beni – Painting the lips

Kuchi-beni – Painting the lips (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)
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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