Japanese, 1753 - 1806
Utamaro was 'discovered' by the young publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo at the beginning of the Tenmei era (1781-1789). With the publisher's support Utamaro developed a new style, the 'large-head pictures of beautiful women' (bijin okubi-e). This large-head print, in which the artist focuses on his subject's face and upper half of the body had already been developed in prints of Kabuki actors but it was Utamaro who exploited the potential of this style in depictions of women. His prints in this style attempt to capture differences in the characters and temperaments of women of every class and social background.
'Ukiyo-e, An Introduction to Japanese Woodblock Prints' by Tadashi Kobayahi
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