喜多川歌麿画「名取酒六家選　兵庫屋華妻　坂上の剣菱」|"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi)

Kitagawa Utamaro

ca. 1794 · Woodblock print; ink and color on paper · Asian Art

喜多川歌麿画「名取酒六家選　兵庫屋華妻　坂上の剣菱」|"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi) — Kitagawa Utamaro

This print combines a portrait of a beautiful courtesan with an advertisement for sake to create a witty and iconic image about pleasure. The sake cup, seen on its side at the upper right, bears the name of the series. The tablets at the upper right and left read, respectively, "Kenbishi," the name of the sake brand, and "Hanazuma," the name of the courtesan. Utamaro pared the composition down to basic elements. The graceful beauty of the image is enhanced by its undulating curves, the lady's attenuated form, and the deeply embossed pattern (karazuri) on her robe. The viewer's interest is piqued by the cropped mirror, one of Utamaro's favorite pictorial motifs. It is left to the imagination to determine what lies beyond the frame and within the mirror's reflection.

Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro
Date: ca. 1794
Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Culture: Japan
Department: Asian Art
Credit line: Rogers Fund, 1925

喜多川歌麿画 「名取酒六家選 兵庫屋華妻 坂上の剣菱」|"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi)

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喜多川歌麿画「名取酒六家選　兵庫屋華妻　坂上の剣菱」|"Hanazuma of Hyōgoya, Kenbishi of Sakagami” from the series The Peers of Saké Likened to Select Denizens of Six Houses (Natori zake rokkasen: Hyōgoya Hanazuma, Sakagami no Kenbishi)