Cherry blossoms trail across a robe of deep black

A woman in a black outer robe patterned with pale cherry blossoms and stylised clouds bends forward against a bright yellow ground, a folded paper raised in both hands toward her face. Her pink under-kimono, patterned with interlocking circles, shows at the collar and sleeve. Her coiffure bristles with combs and long pins. A vertical cartouche at upper left names the series and the sitter, Takigawa; the signature Utamaro hitsu and a diamond-shaped censor's seal appear at right.

Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753–1806) defined the ukiyo-e portrait of women. Working with the publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō in the 1790s, he introduced the ōkubi-e, or large-head print, which brought the viewer close enough to read a glance or a gesture, and he gave the beauties of the Yoshiwara district individual faces and names. Mica grounds, transparent textiles and fine line work made his prints the most refined of their day. His work is held by the British Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Printed as a museum-grade giclée on Hahnemühle fine art paper using 12-ink archival pigment printing. Available handframed in FSC-certified wood with optional float glass, or unframed. Ships worldwide with free delivery to 30+ countries.