Size: 23.7 x 36.8 cm. Utagawa Kunisada, a prominent ukiyo-e artist from the late Edo period, was a disciple of Utagawa Toyokuni I. Among Toyokuni’s students, Kunisada excelled particularly in actor portraits and bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), becoming the most popular artist of the late Edo period. Kunisada became Toyokuni’s apprentice in his mid-teens, and it is said that Toyokuni was greatly impressed by Kunisada’s early talent. Absorbing Toyokuni’s techniques steadily, Kunisada debuted as an ukiyo-e artist in his twenties. Initially, he used the name Ichiyusai, but later adopted the name Gototei, derived from his family’s business, a ferry service at Kameido in present-day Koto Ward, Tokyo. This period marked the beginning of Kunisada’s rise to fame. Kunisada’s style is characterized by his keen observational skills, capturing the elegance and lively expressions of people. His bijin-ga often depicted women with elongated faces and thick, short necks, a common feature of the time. Kunisada’s numerous bijin-ga are noted for their ability to convey the breath and scent of the subjects, making them feel vividly real. This painting of a cowherd woman is truly a masterpiece of Kunisada’s beauty paintings and depicts her in a lively manner. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask us anything. We will respond with sincerity. Please comment before purchasing.
