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a.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:hover.imagelink {color:#0000FF;} a:visited.imagelink {color:#800080;} a.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #0000FF; } a:visited.imagelink img.saleimage { border: 2px solid #800080; } Antique/Vintage Japanese Woodblock Print by Kitagawa Utamaro -Beauty of the Crossroads-
Presented is a beautiful Japanese full oban-size woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, re-cut and reprinted in the 1960s by Yuyudo Publishing House.
Kitagawa Utamaro was born in 1753 in Edo (modern-day Tokyo) and passed away in 1806. He is revered as one of the foremost Japanese printmakers and painters, renowned for his portrayals of bijin (beautiful women).
Utamaro’s portrayals of women exhibit a sensitivity unmatched by his predecessors among ukiyo-e artists. His work was widely reproduced during the 19th and 20th centuries.
Utamaro is known for creating interesting and unusual situations and reasons for presenting his portraits of perfect beauties. The print portrays a beautiful woman as a close-up bust portrait, known as ökubi-e, a print form originally invented by Utamaro. The woman's head is covered with a white cloth, and she holds a corner of it in her mouth, deep in thought.
There is no title inscription on the print, only a poem written in Japanese calligraphy, kuzushiji. It is very hard to interpret. The title of the print is "Tsuji-gimi ni yosuru koi," as it appears in the catalogs of the time. It could be translated as "Love for a Streetwalker" or more gently as "Love for the Beauty of the Crossroads". Since Utamaro's work, especially his bijin-ga portaits were usually focused on psycological aspect, it is very likely that the word "crossroads" carry some double meaning - pointing to the girl's profession and the crossroad of her life - maybe she fell in love with someone and is thinking of finishing her occupation, or maybe someone fell in love with her but he cannot provide for the family.
In any case, the title points to some hard choices regarding love and a profession of a low social stance.
The artist's signature at the lower left reads “Genuine work painted by Utamaro.” The read seal is the seal of the original publisher Matsumura Tatsuemon (Yahei).
This is a woodblock print created using the traditional Japanese technique by one of Japan's best publishers, Yuyudo Publishing. In the 1950's, as interest in Edo-era woodblock prints was reigniting, Yuyudo embarked on a project to produce reprints of works by the great masters of the Golden Age of Ukiyo-e. They hired the finest woodblock printers and carvers in the world for this endeavor. The resulting prints were among the highest-quality reproductions ever made. The print comes in a disposable paper mat.
AUTHOR: Kitagawa Utamaro
PUBLISHER (original): Matsumura Tatsuemon (Yahei)
TITLE: "Love for the Beauty of the Crossroad" ("Tsuji-gimi ni yosuru koi")
CREATED: c.1795
PAPER: washi paper
METHOD OF PRINTING: Woodblock printing
PRINTED: c.1960s
PUBLISHER: Yuyudo Publishing
PRINT SIZE: Vertical oban 15" X 10"
BACKING: No
The condition is excellent. Great detail and colors. There is some very minor toning, no foxing, and no damage.
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