Naniwaya Okita - Kitagawa Utamaro
Archival giclée
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Description
A classic Ukiyo-e portrait of the famous Edo-period beauty Naniwaya Okita, captured by the master printmaker Kitagawa Utamaro.
This woodblock print depicts Naniwaya Okita, a celebrated beauty of the Edo period. Utamaro was a master of the bijin-ga genre, which focused on the portrayal of beautiful women. He became known for his ability to capture the individual personality of his subjects rather than relying on generic facial features. In this composition, Okita is shown in a half-length portrait, holding a tea bowl on a tray. Her gaze is directed away from the viewer, creating a sense of quiet introspection.
Utamaro employs a refined line quality to define the contours of her face and the delicate arrangement of her hair. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the Ukiyo-e tradition, where multiple blocks were used to apply distinct colours. The green kimono features a subtle floral pattern, contrasted against the pink collar and the dark, lacquered tray. The background is kept neutral, ensuring the focus remains entirely on the subject.
Okita was a real person, a waitress at the Naniwaya teahouse in Edo. Her popularity was such that she became a recurring subject in Utamaro's work. By depicting her in everyday activities, the artist brought a sense of humanity to the print. This work is an example of the artist's mature style, where he moved away from full-length figures to focus on the psychological depth of the upper torso and head. The balance of colour and the economy of line reflect the aesthetic standards of the late eighteenth century in Japan. This print remains a primary example of how Ukiyo-e artists documented the urban culture and celebrity figures of the time.
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.
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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
Naniwaya Okita - 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.
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