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Hi.
I've acquired Utamaro's Beauty in front of Mirror and wanted to check if this piece is authentic, original, reproduction, or fake.

I can see that this is woodblock print on nice and thick white paper and can see the the print on the back side. It also has red letters (maybe publisher seal?) on the left side.

Curious to know how much it would be worth.

Please see pictures and let me know.

Also, here's link of picture from the net that I found.
https://ukiyo-e.org/image/artelino/18029g1


Thanks

Andrew

This is a modern facsimile edition, printed from recarved blocks, published late 20th century by Daiichi Kobei (publisher's mark printed in vermillion, left margin: 第一巧藝版, Daiichi Kobei ban).

This iconic print by Utamaro 'Woman powdering her neck', was originally issued by publisher Iseya Magobei ca. 1795-96 (round publisher's mark in the design, just above the mirror).

Guy.

When looking at an Utamaro print for authenticity you have several high hurdles to overcome. Utamaro's prints have been copied many times over and the odds of having an original are small. Yours, if original, has the additional hurdle that it is in very good condition. This, again, tips the scales toward a reproduction. The paper doesn't appear to be of the period when Utamaro was working. Further, I suspect the red text is the printer who printed the reproduction but I can't read Japanese.

Given all that, I tried to find a known original of this print to compare with yours. There appears to be one in the Tokyo National Museum (see link below) in fairly poor condition. Yours does not compare well with that one.

In short, my assessment is that your print is a reproduction. Good repros of Utamaro prints have some value. A gallery price, framed, might be a couple of hundred dollars. On an auction site, half that.

Cheers,
Stan

URL Title :Beauty in Front of Mirror

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