Fine Art Poster
From $29
A giclée print on 200gsm matte fine art paper, using a twelve-colour process for accurate, fade-resistant colour. Supplied unframed, delivered flat or rolled.
Woman and Attendant - Utagawa Toyokuni I
Regular price
$29.00 USD
Sale price
$29.00 USD
Regular price
Archival giclée
Frames arrive ready to hang
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Made to order
Description
A refined hanging scroll depicting a woman and her attendant by the celebrated Ukiyo-e master Utagawa Toyokuni I.
This hanging scroll, attributed to Utagawa Toyokuni I, depicts a refined woman accompanied by her attendant during a nocturnal outing. The composition follows the conventions of the Ukiyo-e school, specifically the bijin-ga genre, which focuses on the depiction of beautiful women. The primary figure stands with a composed posture, draped in a dark, vertically striped kimono that contrasts with the lighter, patterned garment of the attendant. The attendant holds a paper lantern, providing a subtle light source that defines the intimate, quiet atmosphere of the scene.
Toyokuni I was a central figure of the Utagawa school, known for his ability to capture the grace and fashion of the Edo period. His work often features elongated figures and precise, fluid lines that define the folds of the fabric and the delicate features of the subjects. The inclusion of calligraphy in the upper portion of the scroll adds a literary dimension to the visual narrative, a common practice in Japanese hanging scrolls of this era. The muted colour palette, dominated by earthy tones and soft hues, reflects the aesthetic preferences of the time, prioritising harmony and balance over high-contrast saturation.
This piece demonstrates the technical skill required for painting on silk, where the artist must manage the absorption of ink and pigment to achieve subtle gradations. The mounting of the scroll, featuring a patterned textile border, frames the work and integrates it into the traditional interior architecture of a Japanese home. As a representative example of early nineteenth-century Japanese art, the work offers a glimpse into the social customs and sartorial elegance of the period. The interaction between the two figures, captured in a moment of shared movement, provides a sense of narrative depth without relying on complex staging or dramatic action.
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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
Complete The Look
Woman and Attendant - Utagawa Toyokuni I
Regular price
From $29.00 USD
Sale price
From $29.00 USD
Regular price
Fine Art Poster / A4 (21x29.7 cm) / -
Artist Biography
Utagawa Toyokuni I
"My pictures are merely something that I draw, and nothing more than that." Toyokuni's self-assessment was modest to the point of dishonesty. He transformed kabuki actor portraiture from stiff formal likenesses into dynamic images of performers in character on stage, and in doing so built the most commercially powerful woodblock print studio in Edo.
He was born in 1769, the son of a puppet maker. He studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, founder of the Utagawa school, and followed convention by taking one syllable of his master's name. His early work synthesised the styles of Utamaro, Eishi and Choki through close study and relentless practice. By the mid-1790s he had found his own voice. Yakusha Butai no Sugatae (Portraits of Actors in Their Various Roles), a series of large polychrome prints produced between 1794 and 1796, showed kabuki actors costumed and posed on stage rather than seated in formal dress. The series was a commercial triumph and set the standard for actor portraiture for the next generation.
He also excelled at bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful women, establishing compositions that ukiyo-e artists followed for decades. His innovations extended to format: he pioneered the use of diptych, triptych and polyptych arrangements that allowed more complex narrative compositions than the single sheet could hold.
As demand surged, Toyokuni's studio expanded until his personal involvement in each print became nominal. The quality of his later work declined, but the school he built survived him. His two most gifted pupils, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, became major figures in their own right, and the Utagawa school dominated ukiyo-e production through the final decades of the Edo period. He died in 1825.
He was born in 1769, the son of a puppet maker. He studied under Utagawa Toyoharu, founder of the Utagawa school, and followed convention by taking one syllable of his master's name. His early work synthesised the styles of Utamaro, Eishi and Choki through close study and relentless practice. By the mid-1790s he had found his own voice. Yakusha Butai no Sugatae (Portraits of Actors in Their Various Roles), a series of large polychrome prints produced between 1794 and 1796, showed kabuki actors costumed and posed on stage rather than seated in formal dress. The series was a commercial triumph and set the standard for actor portraiture for the next generation.
He also excelled at bijin-ga, pictures of beautiful women, establishing compositions that ukiyo-e artists followed for decades. His innovations extended to format: he pioneered the use of diptych, triptych and polyptych arrangements that allowed more complex narrative compositions than the single sheet could hold.
As demand surged, Toyokuni's studio expanded until his personal involvement in each print became nominal. The quality of his later work declined, but the school he built survived him. His two most gifted pupils, Kunisada and Kuniyoshi, became major figures in their own right, and the Utagawa school dominated ukiyo-e production through the final decades of the Edo period. He died in 1825.
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Fine Art Framed
From $89
The same fine art print in a solid wood frame with UV-protective acrylic glaze and rigid backing. Five frame colours. Arrives ready to hang.
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