Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya - Kitagawa Utamaro
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
Secure checkout
Made to order
Description
A refined ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting the courtesan Hanamurasaki with her young attendants in the Yoshiwara district.
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts the high-ranking courtesan Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya house, accompanied by her two young attendants, or kamuro, named Shirabe and Teriha. The work belongs to the series Snow, Moon and Flowers in Yoshiwara (Seiro setsugekka), a collection that explores the refined atmosphere of the pleasure quarters in Edo-period Japan. Utamaro is recognised for his mastery of the bijin-ga genre, which focuses on the depiction of beautiful women.
In this composition, Hanamurasaki is shown seated, engaged with a book or document, while one of her attendants stands behind her holding a large, rectangular box. The figures are rendered with the elongated proportions and graceful, sweeping lines characteristic of Utamaro's mature style. The artist employs a balanced use of negative space, allowing the focus to remain on the interaction between the figures and their attire. The patterns on the kimonos are executed with precision, demonstrating the technical capabilities of the woodblock printing process.
The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted reds, and subtle greens to create a sense of harmony. The print captures a quiet, domestic moment within the structured environment of the Yoshiwara district. By focusing on the daily activities of these women, Utamaro provides a glimpse into the social hierarchies and aesthetic values of the period. The inclusion of the series title and the names of the subjects in the cartouches provides historical context, identifying the specific individuals portrayed. This print serves as an example of the sophisticated collaboration between the artist, the carver, and the printer, which defined the production of ukiyo-e prints during the late eighteenth century.
Return policy
Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
Shipping
We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Hanamurasaki of the Tamaya - Kitagawa Utamaro
Artist Biography
Kitagawa Utamaro
Almost nothing is certain about his early life. He was born around 1753, possibly in Edo, possibly in Kyoto, possibly in Kawagoe. He began publishing prints in the 1770s under the guidance of the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, who recognised what Utamaro could do with a portrait of a woman.
What he could do was unprecedented. He invented the okubi-e format: large head-and-shoulders portraits of individual women, mostly from the Yoshiwara pleasure district, printed in close-up with minimal background. Before Utamaro, bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) showed groups of figures in full length. He isolated the face, the tilt of the head, the expression. The prints are psychologically specific in a way that had not existed in Japanese printmaking.
He also published books of insect studies and volumes of shunga (erotica), and he made portraits of ordinary town women, not just courtesans. Ohisa and Okita, two shopgirls who appeared in his Three Beauties of the Present Day, became famous across Edo because of his prints. He turned real people into celebrities, which may be the first documented instance of an artist functioning as a kind of media platform.
Tsutaya Juzaburo died in 1797. Utamaro was reportedly devastated. Some critics feel his work never reached the same level afterward. He produced over two thousand prints in his career.
Why Choose Us ?
Damage-free delivery guarantee
Fast Shipping
Museum-Quality Materials
You May Also Like