Woman of the Yoshiwara Reading Scroll - 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 a woman from the Yoshiwara district reading a scroll.
Kitagawa Utamaro remains a central figure in the development of the Ukiyo-e genre, particularly through his mastery of the bijin-ga style, which focuses on the depiction of beautiful women. This print captures a woman from the Yoshiwara district, the pleasure quarter of Edo, engaged in the quiet act of reading a scroll. Her posture is relaxed, yet the composition maintains a sense of poise typical of Utamaro's work during this period.
The artist employs a refined line quality to define the contours of the figure and the folds of her kimono. The garment features a repeating pattern, which contrasts with the more fluid, organic forms of the chrysanthemum motifs at the base of the composition. Utamaro often utilised these subtle decorative elements to ground his subjects within a specific aesthetic environment. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted tones that allow the viewer to focus on the subject's expression and the delicate handling of the scroll.
Utamaro was known for his ability to convey psychological depth through subtle shifts in facial features and posture. In this work, the subject's gaze is directed downward, creating an atmosphere of introspection. The inclusion of writing implements nearby suggests a moment of intellectual engagement, moving beyond mere decorative portraiture. The print reflects the cultural climate of late eighteenth-century Japan, where the lives of women in the Yoshiwara were often documented with both artistic precision and a degree of idealisation. This museum-grade print preserves the original woodblock textures and the specific colour balance intended by the artist, offering a clear view of the technical skill involved in the production of Edo-period prints.
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
Woman of the Yoshiwara Reading Scroll - 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