Four Beauties in Procession

Kitagawa Utamaro, artist

1754–1806

Four Beauties in Procession, 1805, 11th month, Edo period (1600–1868)

Where object was made: Japan

Material/technique: color woodcut; polyptych panel

Dimensions:
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 15.51 x 10.55 mm
Sheet/Paper Dimensions (Height x Width): 394 x 268 mm
Mat Dimensions (Height x Width): 19 x 14 in

Credit line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. George A. Colom

Accession number: 1994.0085

Not on display

Add to portfolio

If you wish to reproduce this image, please submit an image request

Images

Label texts

Archive Label date unknown:
Utamaro is best known for his bijinga (depictions of beautiful women). His female subjects range from famous courtesans of the entertainment districts to popular girls of teahouses, historical and legendary personages, and women from everyday life. Regardless of their background or social standing, his women embody an unmistakable sense of elegance and sensousness.

Utamaro often conceived his prints as diptychs, triptychs or polyptychs (four and even five sheets that formed a single composition). The present print is probably from such a composition.