Three Beauties of the Present Day
by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1793
Details
- Year
- 1793
- Medium
- Woodblock print (nishiki-e)
- Size
- 38.5 cm × 25.5 cm (15.2 × 10 in)
Three Beauties of the Present Day depicts three famous beauties of 1790s Edo: Tomimoto Toyohina, Naniwaya Kita, and Takashima Hisa. Created around 1793 by Kitagawa Utamaro, this print exemplifies his mastery of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), the genre for which he became internationally famous.
Utamaro revolutionized ukiyo-e portraiture by focusing on psychological expression rather than idealized types. Each woman has distinctive features and personality, recognizable to contemporary viewers who knew them from Edo's entertainment districts. The subtle differences in their expressions and the delicate rendering of hair and fabric demonstrate technical virtuosity. The composition places three faces against a plain background, eliminating distractions.
This print helped establish Utamaro as the master of feminine beauty in Japanese art.
About Three Beauties of the Present Day
The print shows Tomimoto Toyohina, Naniwaya Kita, and Takashima Hisa, celebrities in 1790s Edo. Contemporary viewers would have recognized them instantly This work dates to 1793.
Kitagawa Utamaro created it around 1793. He was the undisputed master of bijin-ga, portraits of beautiful women.
Utamaro focused on individual personality rather than generic beauty types. Each face has distinctive features expressing different moods and characters It's executed in woodblock print (nishiki-e).
The print measures approximately 38.5 × 25.5 cm (15.2 × 10 in). This larger format suited detailed portraiture.
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