# Kitagawa Utamaro

Japanese, c.1753–1806

Utamaro trained with the painter Toriyama Sekien and rose to fame in the 1790s with the support of the publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō. He is best known for his half-length portraits of women, the ōkubi-e or “large head” pictures, which give close attention to expression, gesture and the texture of hair and fabric. He also produced finely observed books of insects, shells and birds. In 1804 he was punished by the authorities for designs depicting the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

_Written by Ochre Editions._

12 works in the collection.

- [Young man and his party crossing a stream before Mt. Fuji](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/young-man-and-his-party-crossing-a-stream-before-mt-fuji-aic-23715), Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1798/1800. Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.
- [The Ninth Month, from the series Five Amorous Festivals of Love (Aibore iro no gosekku)](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/the-ninth-month-from-the-series-five-amorous-festivals-of-lo-aic-36300), Kitagawa Utamaro, 1801. Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.
- [Peonies](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/peonies-aic-47580), Kitagawa Utamaro, n.d.. Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.
- [Kisegawa of the Matsubaya, from the series "Comparing the Charms of Five Beauties (Gonin bijin aikyo kurabe)"](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/kisegawa-of-the-matsubaya-from-the-series-comparing-the-char-aic-77436), Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1795/96. Courtesy of Art Institute of Chicago.
- [Net Fishing at Night on the Sumida River](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/net-fishing-at-night-on-the-sumida-river-cma-95356), Kitagawa Utamaro, c. 1800. Courtesy of Cleveland Museum of Art.
- [Women Grating Radish for Sashimi](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/women-grating-radish-for-sashimi-met-37315), Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [A Courtesan](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/a-courtesan-met-40601), Kitagawa Utamaro. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [Yamauba and Kintarō Playing with a Cherry](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/yamauba-and-kintaro-playing-with-a-cherry-met-45099), Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1795. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [“Hour of the Rat: Mistress,” from the series Women’s Daily Customs (Fuzoku bijin tokei)](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/hour-of-the-rat-mistress-from-the-series-women-s-daily-custo-met-51137), Kitagawa Utamaro, 1790. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [Kiyomizu Komachi, from the series Futabagusa nana Komachi](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/kiyomizu-komachi-from-the-series-futabagusa-nana-komachi-met-54871), Kitagawa Utamaro, 1790s. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [“Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya,” from the series Seven Komachi of the Pleasure Quarters (Seirō Nana Komachi)](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/hanamurasaki-of-the-tamaya-from-the-series-seven-komachi-of-met-55138), Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1790. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- [Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with the Geisha Koharu of Kinokuniya, from the series “True Feelings Compared: The Founts of Love” (Jitsu kurabe iro no Minakami)](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/jihei-of-kamiya-eloping-with-the-geisha-koharu-of-kinokuniya-met-57011), Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1798–99. Courtesy of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.