Kitagawa Utamaro: The Ukiyo-e Legend and His Prints of Edo Beauties

This print of actor Ichikawa Yaozō as Gorō Tokimune was produced around 1776–77. (Courtesy Harvard Art Museums)

The 1781 Minari daitsūjin ryakuengi (A Brief History of the Exploits of a Great Dandy), written by Shimizu Enjū with illustrations by Utamaro. (Courtesy Tokyo Metropolitan Central Library)

Seirō niwaka onna geisha no bu: Shishi Tamaya Oito (Female Geisha Section of the Yoshiwara Niwaka Festival: Lion Dance: Oito of the Tamaya), 1783. (Courtesy Tokyo National Museum/Colbase)

Ehon mushi erami (Picture Book of Selected Insects) with kyōka selected by Ishikawa Masamochi and illustrations by Utamaro, 1788. (Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art)

Fujin sōgaku juttai: Uwaki no sō (Ten Types of Feminine Physiognomy: The Fickle Type), around 1792–93. (Courtesy New York Public Library)

Kasen koi no bu: Arawaruru koi (Anthology of Poems: The Love Section: Obvious Love), around 1793–94. (Courtesy The Art Institute of Chicago)

Tōji san bijin (Three Beauties of the Present Day), around 1792–93. (Courtesy New York Public Library)

Seirō jūni toki tsuzuki: Uma no koku (A Day in the Pleasure Quarters: The Hour of the Horse), around 1794. (Courtesy The Art Institute of Chicago)

Kōmei bijin rokkasen: Takashima Hisa (Six Renowned Beauties: Takashima Hisa), around 1795–96. In the top right of the picture is a rebus revealing the name of the woman (see detailed view to right). A hawk (taka), island (shima), fire (hi), and half a heron (the sa of sagi) combine to spell out Takashima Hisa. (Courtesy The Art Institute of Chicago)

Taiboku no shita no amayadori (Sheltering from the Rain Under a Tree), around 1799–1800. (Courtesy Tokyo National Museum/Colbase)

Nozoki (Peeping), around 1799–1800. (Courtesy The Metropolitan Museum of Art)