Japanese Woodblock Prints
Japanese Woodblock Prints
Lot Closed
December 19, 01:06 PM GMT
Estimate
6,000 - 8,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806)
The courtesan Takigawa of the Gomeiro house
Edo period, late 18th century
woodblock print, from the series Elegance in the Parlor (Zashiki no fuzei), signed Utamaro hitsu (Brush of Utamaro), published by Yamaguchiya Chuemon, circa 1799
Vertical oban: 38.2 x 25.6 cm., 15 x 10 in.
An example of Utamaro’s large head portraits (okubi-e). Among these works, the eyes and hand gestures indicate the temperament of the sitter. The courtesan Takigawa balances a red lacquer sake cup precariously between her thumb and index finger. Her kimono is designed with peonies among scattered fans decorated with stylised cherry blossoms.
For a heavily trimmed impression of the same print in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, accession number 11.14322, go to: https://collections.mfa.org/objects/206444
