KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)
KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)
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KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)

Arawaruru koi (Obvious love)

Details
KITAGAWA UTAMARO (1754-1806)
Arawaruru koi (Obvious love)
Woodblock print, from the series Kasen koi no bu (Anthology of poems: the love section), signed Utamaro hitsu, published by Matsumura Tatsuemon, circa 1795-96
Vertical oban: 14 5/8 x 9 3/4 in. (37.1 x 24.8 cm.)

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Lot Essay

A young woman looks down, presumably at a letter or other love token, distractedly fingering a hair pin. Strands of hair are suggestively curled at the nape and another two stick out. Her robe, tie-dyed with starfish, falls open over one breast. The image is one of five half-length portraits of women with hand or hands showing that comprise the set Anthology of Poems: The Love Section published in 1793–94. The title alludes to classical collections of poetry that are divided by theme and season into sections. Utamaro arranges them by subtitle: Reflective Love, Deeply Hidden Love, Love That Meets Each Night, Obvious Love and Love That Rarely Meets. The light cotton robe and round fan suggest summer

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