Kitagawa Utamaro "Young Woman Blowing a Popen"

This exquisite piece features Kitagawa Utamaro's renowned bijin-ga (portrait of beautiful women), titled “Young Woman Blowing a Popen”, which depicts a fashionable young woman adorned in a checkered kimono popular during the period. Part of the series “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy” (Fujo ninsō juppen) housed in the Tokyo National Museum, this artwork exudes a sensual elegance and delivers a powerful impact, with the upper body boldly extending across the entire screen.

The texture of the woodblock print, worn away over time, and the subtle gradations of color are captured using foil thread. The silk yarns employed to weave the checkered kimono create a superior texture compared to the original print, while even the intricate details such as the hairline and neckline—often challenging to reproduce in weaving—have been meticulously crafted by our skilled artisans. The three-dimensional quality of the skin and the nuanced texture of the black hair are achieved through subtle color combinations and the artistry of weaving, ensuring a rich, dynamic appearance.

Size: 
H. approx. 71.0cm (28.0 in.)
W. approx. 41.0cm (16.1 in.)
D. approx. 3.5cm (1.4 in.)