Marvelous Portrait of Edo Period Beauties! We are very fortunate to be able to offer this antique reprint. It is from our rare print collection. It is, of course, a Kitagawa Utamaro masterwork. The title is Okita and Ofuji. Without a doubt, Utamaro Japanese, c. His classic head and shoulders portraits of courtesans, geishas and teahouse waitresses are among the most sought after of all prints. In fact, many serious collectors consider Utamaros beauties to be the very soul of Ukiyo-e , the art of the Floating World. Lovely portrait of the Edo period beauties Okita and Ofuji. What is the symbolism of this exquisite image? Does it have a hidden meaning? Yes, it probably does. Art historians have pondered this question for well over 200 years. Ofuji, the older woman on the right was the reigning beauty of the era previous to Utamaro the era when Suzuki Harunobu was the premier artist of bijin-ga beauty portraits. Okita was the reigning beauty in Utamaros time. Does Ofujis passing the scroll to Okita symbolize her passing her beauty to the younger woman? Or is it, perhaps, a certificate of recognition that now it is Okitas time to be recognized as the reigning beauty of Edo. What do you think? Utamaro painted the original c. This is a later reprint from sometime in the mid to later 1800s during the Meiji era. Would be stunning on your home or office wall and would make a fascinating addition to any serious Utamaro collection. It is very rare to find prints of this quality, so closely emulating the original masterpiece. It would be a superb choice for any collector. It is from the estate of a prominent Japanese collector who died a few years into the 20. It is truly a classic image from the golden age of ukiyo-e. It was made from meticulously recarved wooden blocks using exactly the same technique and with the same excellent detail and rich color as the original. Later edition prints like this make an exciting addition to your collection and are a wonderful way to decorate at a small fraction of the staggering cost of a first edition print. Matted and framed, this print would make a stunning presentation by itself or as an impressive addition to an arrangement with other prints. It is one you will be proud to display in your home or office and is bound to become a cherished family heirloom. Utamaros masterworks are in the collections of many of the worlds great museums. Among them are the Metropolitan Museum of Art , New York; the Museum of Fine Arts , Boston; the British Museum , London; the Hermitage Museum , Saint Petersburg, Russia; and the Tokyo National Museum, Tokyo. Kitagawa Utamaro, Japanese, c. TITLE: Okita and Ofuji. MEDIUM: Authentic polychrome woodblock print. Ink and color on handmade. 14 ¾ x 10 1/8; (37,5 cm x 25,7 cm). CONDITION: Exquisite antique print. Superb condition for its age. Wonderful color and stunning detail. Slight soiling and wrinkling. Distressed grey mica background. Thinning or small remnant from previous mounting on top edge of verso. Please take a moment to carefully examine the scans. The Staff at Uki Arts. The Uki Arts Gallery. At the upper right to see all of our Gallerys current offerings. To see all our great new listings as they become available. The item “Exquisite UTAMARO Japanese woodblock print portrait of OKITA AND OFUJI” is in sale since Tuesday, April 25, 2017. This item is in the category “Antiques\Asian Antiques\Japan\Prints”. The seller is “ukiarts” and is located in Colorado Springs, Colorado. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Age: Meiji Period, ca. late 19th century
- Type: Antique Japanese Woodblock Print
- Primary Material: Ink and color on handmade paper
- Original/Reproduction: Vintage Reproduction
- Region of Origin: Japan
