Untitled

Kitagawa Utamaro

ca. 1795 · Ink on mulberry paper · Asian Art

Utamaro designed numerous prints featuring Yamauba, a legendary woman who lived in the mountains and raised the rambunctious boy Kintarō, who went on to become a storied warrior. Here, Kintarō clings to Yamauba’s back and sticks out his tongue at his reflection in the mirror she uses to blacken her teeth. This beauty regimen, associated since ancient times with aristocratic women, was widely practiced among Edo-period social classes.

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Date

ca. 1795

Medium

Ink on mulberry paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of John and Lili Bussel, 1996