the collector's folio

Kitagawa Utamaro Most Popular Paintings

The 25 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 25 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753 – 1806

Toji san bijin (Three Beauties of the Present Day)From Bijin-ga (Pictures of Beautiful Women), published by Tsutaya Juzaburo

View the most popular artwork of Kitagawa Utamaro ranked #1: Toji san bijin (Three Beauties of the Present Day)From Bijin-ga (Pictures of Beautiful Women), published by Tsutaya Juzaburo

1793 · Toledo Museum of Art, Toledo · original 26 x 38 cm

Experience Kitagawa Utamaro's 'Three Beauties of the Present Day,' a stunning Japanese woodblock print capturing elegance and grace with delicate details & muted colors.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22526 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Courtesan or Kneeling Lady with Fan from the series Seasonal Poems Composed by Famous Women

View the most popular artwork of Kitagawa Utamaro ranked #2: Courtesan or Kneeling Lady with Fan from the series Seasonal Poems Composed by Famous Women

1790 · Hill-Stead Museum, Farmington

Experience the elegance of Kitagawa Utamaro's 'Courtesan with Fan.' This exquisite ukiyo-e print captures a kneeling beauty, showcasing refined lines and captivating detail – a timeless masterpiece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Two Beauties

1802 · Metropolitan Museum of Art, new york

Two elegant women in ukiyo-e style by Kitagawa Utamaro. Explore this exquisite Japanese masterpiece today.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20027 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Hyōgorō / Hinakoto (The Courtesan Hinakoto of the House of Hyōgo)

Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, Bilbao

Admire Kitagawa Utamaro's 'Hyōgorō / Hinakoto,' a stunning ukiyo-e portrait of a courtesan, showcasing delicate beauty and masterful woodblock printing techniques. Explore Edo period art!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Drying clothes

1790 · Бібліотека Честера Бітті, Дублін · original 36 x 75 cm

A serene Ukiyo-e triptych by Kitagawa Utamaro capturing women drying clothes against the backdrop of Mt. Fuji, offering a tranquil glimpse into Edo-period Japan that you can bring to your collection.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$35046 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$40075 × 36 cm Commission at original size

Standing Prostitute

Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled [Uwaki no sō (The Fickle OneThe Fickle One)]

Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, Bilbao

This exquisite woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures the essence of *bijin-ga*, showcasing a woman in elegant attire with a captivating gaze. Created during the Edo period, it exemplifies Ukiyo-e's meticulous detail and symbolic exploration of female beauty and psychology.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

A Flirt, from the series Ten Studies in Female Physiognomy (Fujin sogaku juttai)

Asia Society Museum, New York City

A Flirt, from the series Ten Studies in Female Physiognomy (Fujin sogaku juttai)

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Along the Shore of Yènoshim

1793 · Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn

Discover "Along the Shore of Yènoshim" by Kitagawa Utamaro – a stunning Ukiyo-e woodblock print capturing serene beauty and Japanese landscape artistry from 1793.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$22526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Untitled (Woman Reading a Letter)

Museo de Bellas Artes de Bilbao, Bilbao

Kitagawa Utamaro's "Untitled (Woman Reading a Letter)" captures a serene Edo-era beauty lost in thought, showcasing the artist’s signature Ukiyo-e style and delicate detail.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Dressing a Boy on the Occasion of His First Letting His Hair Grow

1795 · Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn · original 39 x 27 cm

Kitagawa Utamaro's 'Dressing a Boy' captures a tender moment of Japanese culture – a boy receiving his first haircut, rendered with exquisite detail and grace.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$17727 × 39 cm Commission at original size

Seated Beauty

1801 · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 41 cm Commission this artwork

A scene from the 'Poem of the Pillow'

1788

Discover Kitagawa Utamaro’s ‘A scene from the ‘Poem of the Pillow’ – a captivating Ukiyo-e print showcasing intimacy & masterful detail. Explore its bold style & timeless narrative.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17540 × 25 cm Commission this artwork

Woman with a Mirror

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Courtesans Strolling Beneath Cherry Trees Before the Daiko

1789 · Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$35045 × 22 cm Commission this artwork

untitled (1518)

Explore Kitagawa Utamaro’s ‘untitled (1518)’ – a stunning Ukiyo-e woodblock print depicting women in a boat. Discover intricate details, bold lines & symbolic beauty of Edo period Japan.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$25026 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

The Hour of the Tiger

Discover Kitagawa Utamaro’s "The Hour of the Tiger," a stunning Ukiyo-e print showcasing two women in a private beauty ritual. Admire its rich colors, intricate details & cultural significance.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20026 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

beauty at toilet

1790

Admire 'Beauty at Toilet' by Kitagawa Utamaro (1790). A captivating Ukiyo-e painting of two women in a serene bathroom setting. Hand-painted reproduction available.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 18 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

Utamaro Okita

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 19 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17527 × 38 cm Commission this artwork

secret love

1790

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 20 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

untitled (6733)

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 21 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17525 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

untitled (5477)

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 22 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

women gathering for tooth-blackening ceremony

1803

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 23 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17526 × 39 cm Commission this artwork

Moonlight Revelry at Dozo Sagami

original 194 x 348 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 24 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17542 × 24 cm Commission this artwork

women making dresses (center panel)

Discover Kitagawa Utamaro’s ‘Women Making Dresses,’ a serene Ukiyo-e masterpiece showcasing daily life in Edo Japan. Explore intricate brushwork & muted tones of this iconic artwork.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 25 of 135 artworks by Kitagawa Utamaro
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$20025 × 40 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

1753 – 1806

Quick facts

Creative periodsmature period
Art periodEarly Modern
Museums on APSYale University Art Gallery, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Toledo Museum of Art, Cincinnati Art Museum, Brooklyn Museum
Topics exploredwomen, japanese art, traditional japan, ukiyo-e, edo period
Emotional tonetranquil, reflective
Vibeelegant, calm
Typical colorsputty
Best occasionsstatement

Biography

Kitagawa Utamaro: A Master of Bijin-ga

Born: Tokyo, Japan (1753)
Died: 1806

Kitagawa Utamaro was a Japanese artist renowned for his contributions to *ukiyo-e*, particularly his depictions of beautiful women (*bijin-ga*). He stands as one of the most celebrated designers of woodblock prints and paintings from the Edo period, leaving an enduring legacy on both Japanese art and Western Impressionism.

Early Life and Training

Little is definitively known about Utamaro's early life. It’s believed he was born Kitagawa Ichitarō around 1753, though his birthplace remains uncertain with various locations suggested including Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara (Edo), and Kawagoe.
He came under the tutelage of Toriyama Sekien, a practitioner of *ukiyo-e* who also trained in the upper-class Kanō school of painting. Sekien recognized Utamaro's talent and fostered his artistic development.
Utamaro’s first known published work appeared around 1770, an illustration for a haikai poetry anthology. He later worked under the name Kitagawa Toyoaki, illustrating popular literature and occasionally producing portraits of kabuki actors.

Rise to Prominence: The Bijin-ga Master

In 1782, Utamaro joined forces with publisher Tsutaya Jūzaburō, marking a pivotal moment in his career. This partnership led to the creation of groundbreaking works and solidified his reputation.
Utamaro’s signature style emerged in the early 1790s: portraits of women with exaggerated, elongated features. These *bijin-ga* became immensely popular, establishing him as a leading figure in the art world.
He innovated within the genre by focusing on single figures and capturing intimate moments, moving away from traditional group depictions. His attention to detail in portraying fabrics, hairstyles, and expressions was exceptional.
Utamaro produced over 2000 known prints throughout his career, demonstrating remarkable productivity and artistic versatility.

Influences and Artistic Development

Kiyonaga: Utamaro was influenced by Torii Kiyonaga, a pre-eminent portraitist of beauties in the 1780s, adopting and refining the graceful aesthetic established by Kiyonaga.
Shunshō: He drew inspiration from Katsukawa Shunshō, who introduced the *ōkubi-e* ("large-headed picture") style, which Utamaro adapted for his portraits of women.
European Impressionism: Utamaro’s work significantly impacted European Impressionist painters like Monet and Cassatt. His use of partial views, emphasis on light and shade, and focus on everyday subjects resonated with these artists, who sought to emulate his techniques.

Later Life, Controversy, and Legacy

In 1804, Utamaro faced legal trouble for creating prints depicting Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a sensitive subject due to its political implications. He was arrested and manacled for fifty days.
He died two years later in 1806, leaving behind a rich artistic legacy.
Utamaro’s work gained widespread recognition in Europe during the mid-nineteenth century, particularly in France, where it fueled the Japonism movement and profoundly influenced Western art.
His *bijin-ga* remain iconic representations of Edo period beauty and continue to be celebrated for their elegance, artistry, and cultural significance.

Questions & Answers

Where are Kitagawa Utamaro's artworks grouped by art movement?

The All Movements page groups Kitagawa Utamaro's artworks by art movement.

Is there a chronological account of Kitagawa Utamaro?

The Chronicle of Kitagawa Utamaro is a scroll-driven timeline that presents the artist's works in chronological order, grouped into career-period chapters.

What aliases or alternate names does Kitagawa Utamaro have?

Kitagawa Utamaro appears under the alternate names Utamaro, Outamaro, Nobuyoshi Kitagawa, Entaisai, Toyoaki.

By the ArtsDot.com Editorial Team Updated Sept. 1, 2026

Collector's quiz

What is Kitagawa Utamaro best known for?
During which period did Kitagawa Utamaro flourish as an artist?
What influenced European Impressionists, particularly regarding partial views and light/shade?
What was a significant event that led to Utamaro’s arrest in 1804?

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