During the Edo period Tochigi Town prospered by shipping on the Uzuma River. Tochigi Town, which had cultural exchanges with Edo, also had connections with through their Kyoka poetry.
As a result, there are some ukiyo-es with poems by Tochigi Kyoka poets. We will introduce some of the works on display at the Tochigi Utamaro Community Center, which interprets the history and culture of Tochigi at that period.
We would love to have you.
“Dressing Neck”
around 1795-96 / big size colored picture Utamaro picture / Ise Mago edition
The work shows a beauty from her back who is making up her face in front of a mirror. A poem of Sumiyoshi no Urachika is added, “A lady with Mt.Fuji shaped forehead is facing the mirror without a blur・・・”
In the book “Poem Portrait Artist Class” Kosui Urachika was appeared. He is thought to be the same person as Sumiyoshi no Urachika.
In this book “Urachika, Mr.Mori, alias Kamaya, born in Goshu, living in Shimotuke Tochigi, sake brewer” is found. From this he should be Mori Kohei who was born in Omi and running a sake brewer in Tochigi.
“Loving heart”
1793-94 / big size colored picture Utamaro picture / Tsutaya Jyuzabro edition
A series of torso pictures that shows beauty faces centering in a picture. The background is colored with red mica.
You can see the will of Utamaro to show the delicate motion of her heart appearing in her face and gesture. This lady is thought in this series to be the eldest from her hair style and shaved eyebrows.
