The Faddish Type from the series Ten Types in the Physiognomy of Women
The pose in which Utamaro presents this beauty is typical of Japanese painting and prints. The three-quarter face is rendered with the simple outline of the eyebrow and cheek, a single line for the nose, narrow eyes, and half-parted, petal-like lips. Not the likeness of a specific individual, the print instead portrays a particular mood or character. The pink mica background was created by covering the image of the woman with a stencil and then brushing mica mixed with pink color and an adhesive onto the background. The print comes from a series that represents women from different classes.
Credit: Bequest of Edward L. Whittemore
c. 1793
Color woodblock print
36.9 x 25.4cm
1930.218
Image and text: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 2023
Where you'll find this
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Permanent collection