Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806) Japanese, Woodblock Print. First produced in the 1790s. Titled "Ushiwakamaru Serenading Princess Joruri by Flute," the print depicts an Edo-period interpretation of a scene from the 15th Century Tale of Joruri (Joruri monogatari), using courtesans and modern contrivances as models. Red seals bottom left. Kanji middle right. Framed with an ornate Oriental hanger at top. 

Overall Size: 25 x 18 1/4 in. 

Sight Size: 17 1/4 x 12 in. 

Kitagawa Utamaro was born Kitagawa Ichitaro in 1753 in Japan, and although he became one of the most highly regarded designers of ukiyo-e (“floating world”) woodblock prints and paintings in history, little is known of his actual life. He first used the names Yusuke and Yuki while studying under Toriyama Sekien (1712-1788), later calling himself Toyoaki before settling on his most common moniker. He is known to have made several important improvements in woodblock printing techniques, and invented at least three himself: “Jitsubushi,” which makes the background of a piece hazy, “Unmozuri,” which creates a sheen by rubbing the background with mica, and “Odoshoku tsubushi,” which involves rubbing the background with ochre for a gradient effect. His art began to appear in the 1770s and he rose to prominence in the early 1790s, producing over 2000 known prints before he was arrested in 1804 for making illegal prints depicting the 16th Century military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a scandal that likely contributed to his death two years later in 1806. One of the few artists to be famous throughout all of Japan in his lifetime, by the mid-19th Century his work had even reached Europe, where it garnered particular acclaim in France and heavily influenced the Impressionists with his use of partial views and his emphasis on light and shade. 

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