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Kitagawa Utamaro

c. 1753 – 1806Japanese

Kitagawa Utamaro is the supreme master of bijin-ga (beautiful women) in the ukiyo-e woodblock tradition. Working under publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, he revolutionised portraiture by pioneering bust-length compositions that explored psychology and emotion. His influence on European art was profound, inspiring Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas, and Mary Cassatt.

Notable Works

  • Three Beauties of the Present Day
  • Woman Playing with a Cat
  • Ten Types in the Physiognomic Study of Women

Works in the collection