Matsubaya uchi Kisegawa, by Utamaro

An image of Matsubaya uchi Kisegawa. Utamaro, Kitagawa (Japanese printmaker, c.1756-1806). Colour print from woodblocks. Ôban, 387 x 253. Signed: Shômei (genuine) Utamaro hitsu. Publisher: Sen-Sa. c.1794-95. Ukiyo-e.
Notes: From the series Seirô nana Komachi (Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara), a title referring to the seven famous episodes in the life of the Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi that were often parodied and brought up to date in prints. However, these seven ‘large-head’ portraits of leading Yoshiwara courtesans do not provide specific references to scenes from the poet’s life. The intention rather was to imply ‘seven beauties’ by association with Komachi who was famed for her looks as well as her poetry. The prints were issued first with a yellow background, and then, slightly later with a grey background, as in this impression. As with the series Tôji zensei bijin-zoroe (Array of supreme beauties of the present day), the courtesans and kamuro in this series coincide in the Yoshiwara guidebook only in spring of 1794. Kisegawa was the name of the highest-ranking yobidashi courtesan in the brothel of Matsubaya Hanzaemon in the first half of the 1790s. She retired soon after the spring of 1794. As she is shown with her hair down in the manner worn for the tsukidashi ceremony (the launching of a new courtesan), it is possible that the print shows her successor, who inherited the name Kisegawa. However, the kamuro named on this print, Sasano and Takeno, belonged to the first Kisegawa and did not serve the second, who was not ‘launched’ until the following year. Although there may be other explanations, it seems probable that the print shows the first Kisegawa and that there is another reason for the way she wears her hair. It may be significant that the print by Masanobu (P.60-1958) shows a high-ranking courtesan with her hair worn loose in a very similar way. Masanobu’s figure recalls poetesses of the Heian court, so perhaps Utamaro is making a veiled vis

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Matsubaya uchi Kisegawa. Utamaro, Kitagawa (Japanese printmaker, c.1756-1806). Colour print from woodblocks. Ôban, 387 x 253. Signed: Shômei (genuine) Utamaro hitsu. Publisher: Sen-Sa. c.1794-95. Ukiyo-e. Notes: From the series Seirô nana Komachi (Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara), a title referring to the seven famous episodes in the life of the Heian-period poet Ono no Komachi that were often parodied and brought up to date in prints. However, these seven ‘large-head’ portraits of leading Yoshiwara courtesans do not provide specific references to scenes from the poet’s life. The intention rather was to imply ‘seven beauties’ by association with Komachi who was famed for her looks as well as her poetry. The prints were issued first with a yellow background, and then, slightly later with a grey background, as in this impression. As with the series Tôji zensei bijin-zoroe (Array of supreme beauties of the present day), the courtesans and kamuro in this series coincide in the Yoshiwara guidebook only in spring of 1794. Kisegawa was the name of the highest-ranking yobidashi courtesan in the brothel of Matsubaya Hanzaemon in the first half of the 1790s. She retired soon after the spring of 1794. As she is shown with her hair down in the manner worn for the tsukidashi ceremony (the launching of a new courtesan), it is possible that the print shows her successor, who inherited the name Kisegawa. However, the kamuro named on this print, Sasano and Takeno, belonged to the first Kisegawa and did not serve the second, who was not ‘launched’ until the following year. Although there may be other explanations, it seems probable that the print shows the first Kisegawa and that there is another reason for the way she wears her hair. It may be significant that the print by Masanobu (P.60-1958) shows a high-ranking courtesan with her hair worn loose in a very similar way. Masanobu’s figure recalls poetesses of the Heian court, so perhaps Utamaro is making a veiled vis

Image data

Accession Number: P.200-1946
Photograph copyright © The Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge.
Aperture: f/16.0
Focal length: 80
Camera: Hasselblad H4D-31
Photographer name: Michael Jones
Image height: 1024 pixels
Image width: 689 pixels
Processed with: Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5.0 (Windows)
Filesize: 669.78kB
Exposure time: 1/60
ISO Speed: 100
Fnumber: 16/1
Captured: 2015:12:14 16:20:15

Key words

18th Century beauties beautiful beauty colour printing costume courtesan female Fitz_PDP hair hair pin hairpin hairstyle Japanese kanzashi hairpin Kitagawa Utamaro long hair long haired portraits print ukiyo-e Utamaro woman woodblock young youth youthful

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            The Fitzwilliam Museum (2024)
            "Matsubaya uchi Kisegawa, by Utamaro"
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