Kitagawa Utamaro
Japanese·1753–1806
No Portrait Available
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was a Japanese artist who became the most celebrated master of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) in ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Working in Edo (modern Tokyo), he created over 2,000 prints that elevated the female portrait to a refined art form.
Utamaro's half-length portraits of women, published by Tsutaya Jūzaburō, were revolutionary for their psychological depth and elegant line. Series like Ten Studies in Female Physiognomy explored individual personality through subtle differences in expression. His work deeply influenced French Impressionists and Art Nouveau designers when Japanese prints reached Europe in the 1860s.
Notable Works by Kitagawa Utamaro
1 painting catalogued with museum locations
About Kitagawa Utamaro
Utamaro was the greatest master of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) in Japanese woodblock printing. His elegant half-length portraits of women revolutionized the genre with psychological depth and refined composition.
Major collections are at the Tokyo National Museum, the British Museum, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. His work appears in all significant Japanese print collections worldwide.
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