Utamaro – 1753-1806

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kitigawa Utamaro, is considered one of the greatest artists of woodblock prints (ukiyo-e). His work reached Europe in the mid-nineteenth century, where it became very popular in France.

He influenced European Impressionists particularly with his emphasis on light and shade. The reference to “Japanese Influence” among these artists often refers to the work of Utamaro.

His masterfully composed studies of women, known as biginga, appear as two lithographs in our ETC collection.

See #PA150 Print of Japanese Lady Reading Letter and #PA149 Print of Two Japanese Ladies. Both are reissues of the original woodblock prints.