Kitagawa Utamaro (1753?–1806)

Futami-ga-ura was a famous beauty spot where pilgrims en route to the Ise Shrines would be sure to stop at. Here a group of women enjoy themselves, watching the morning sun rising on the horizon just to the left of the famous rocks.

For another impression of the first in the collections of the Arthur M. Sackler Museum (Harvard Art Museums) go to: www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/29926

The second print depicts a woman chanting whilst playing a shamisen, a custom which became very popular during the Edo period. Of this series of women performing joruri, only two designs are known, of which this is one. The other depicts a woman tuning her shamisen with a music stand in front of her, an impression of which is in the Arthur M. Sackler Museum (Harvard Art Museums), go to www.harvardartmuseums.org/art/206591