Beauty and Attendant on New Year’s Day, from the series “Pleasures for Beauties on the Five Festival Days" ("Bijin gosetsu no asobi")

Art Historical Context

In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1603–1868), Kitagawa Utamaro (3–1806) captured the elegance of everyday beauty through his masterful ukiyo-e woodblock. This oban-sized color woodblock print, titled *Beauty and Att on New Year’s Day comes from his series “Pleasures for Beauties the Five Festival Days”Bijin gosetsu noobi*), created around 1800. Utamaro, a leading figure in bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), celebrated the "floating world" of pleasure quarters, festivals, and refined femininity, making art accessible to a wide audience via affordable prints. The scene depicts a graceful beauty and her attendant during New Year’s festivities, a time of renewal and joy in Japanese culture marked by visits to shrines, feasting, and kimono-clad outings. Utamaro’s genius shines in his subtle use of color gradients (via bokashi shading) and dynamic compositions that emphasize flowing fabrics, expressive poses, and intimate interactions. Printed on mulberry paper with intricate carving by skilled artisans, these techniques brought unprecedented realism and sensuality to the medium. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago’s Arts of Asia department, this print exemplifies ukiyo-e’s cultural pinnacle, influencing global art from Impressionism to modern design. It invites us to savor the poetic harmony of tradition and allure, a timeless snapshot of Japan’s festive spirit.

About the Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806

Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...