A Wife of the Lower Rank

Color woodblock prints reached full blossom during the Edo period (1615–1868), because the medium played a crucial role in the popular pictorial art known as ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the Floating World.” Ukyio-e drew its subject matter from the urban entertainment life, featuring genre scenes and portraits. Its forms varied from modest and widely disseminated prints to expensive paintings. The prints were usually produced by teamwork, whereby the master artist assumed the key role in design and the selling price.

An important artist of Ukyio-e, Kitagawa Utamaro was celebrated for his images of beautiful women, both geisha (courtesan) and ordinary women. His favorites are these sensual, slender beauties engaging in everyday activities.