Tetsukuri no Tamagawa, from the series, “Six Tama Rivers” (Mu Tamagawa)

Description

In Tetsukuri no Tamagawa, Kitagawa Utamaro presents a courtesan close to the picture surface, with long black hair and golden ornaments framing her face. A pink floral upper robe meets a red patterned collar, bringing several delicate surfaces together within the compact portrait. At the upper right, a small inset landscape offers a contrasting view beyond the figure’s immediate presence.

Made around 1798, the ink-and-color woodblock print belongs to the Six Tama Rivers subject identified by its title. The inset gives the portrait another register of space, allowing a landscape association to accompany the richly dressed woman. Utamaro balances the dark hair with lighter ornament and fabric, making the head and upper body the principal focus. The work invites attention to the relationship between a close human likeness and a distant pictured setting.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Kitagawa Utamaro collection.