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.
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