Utamaro II

Utamaro II was an artist whose documented professional activity spanned the extensive period between 1615 and 1804. Their body of known work preserved in museum collections consists primarily of prints, though at least one painting is also held by major institutions.

The artist’s output is highly represented in collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The themes recurrently explored focus on depictions of women, often courtesans, paired with detailed natural backdrops, as seen in works like A Courtesan with Morning-glories on the Background and A Courtesan with Wisteria on the Background.

A total of seven prints and one painting are represented in these institutional holdings. Notable among these Utamaro II prints are complex genre scenes such as Group of Women on the Engawa of a Country House, in the time of the Cherry Blossoming, and the landscape The Kōya no Tamagawa, Province of Kii. The artist also produced Miscellaneous Paintings and Calligraphy. Due to the longevity of the artist's active period, the preserved works often offer valuable documentation of evolving artistic styles and techniques. Today, many of these works are accessible as downloadable artwork, providing researchers with access to high-quality prints.