Three figures gather beneath a tall paper lantern

Three figures are grouped beneath a tall paper lantern inscribed with characters, a large butterfly ornament above and peony branches behind them. One tips her head back, pressing a red cloth to her cheek; a second raises a large pink folding fan inscribed with characters; a third, in a black robe with small floral crests, holds up a hexagonal green paper lantern on a stick. Utamaro's signature is inscribed at left near the lantern.

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.