喜多川　歌麿1753〜1806 　(宝暦3年〜文化3年)

浮世絵師。喜多川派の祖。当初は黄表紙や洒落本などの挿絵を描く。

ついで役者の大首絵を美人画に採用、豊かな女性の表情を捉えた画風により、 寛政期、鳥居清長と並ぶ美人画の第一人者となった。

肉筆画・春画にもすぐれたが、「八景浮世絵」など名所風景画にも名作を残す。

晩年は筆禍事件で手鎖の刑を受けるなど、失意のうちに没した。

Utamaro Kitagawa 1750-1806

The original name of Utamaro is Ichitaro Kitagawa.

It is generally agreed that he started his career as a pupil of the painter Toriyama Sekien.

His early known works are actor portraits and theater programs, published under the name of Utagawa Toyoaki.

In 1781/82 he changed his name to Kitagawa Utamaro.

Around 1783 Utamaro started a successful cooperation with the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo.

Together they published several book illustrations. The early works of Utamaro were influenced by Torii Kiyonaga and Harunobu.