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Can someone help identify this print? This is one of five prints that I have. Mark in the lower left corner, and writing on the right side.
The back of the print has nothing on it.
Any information would be very much appreciated.
Thank You,
Ruthann

That is Utamaro's signature. The smaller stamp in the corner is probably that of a publisher, but I don't know which one.

From the rather odd color of the prints (photograph), I can say little about their quality. There are far more Utamaro reprints and recuts hanging around than there are originals.

Thank You Jeff, actually the color on this picture is pretty accurate. The colors are very muted, the paper is thick, and yellowing.
Ruthann

Sorry, not Jeff.... Thank you Jim.!

Ruth,

This is by Kitigawa Utamaro. It is "Woman with a Pipe" from his "Five Shades of Ink, Newly Made" (Shinsei goshiki-zumi) series.

If "the paper is thick, and yellowing" then it is a copy. The original paper is like a heavy tissue paper and the ink bleeds through so you can see a pretty good mirror image on the back of the print.

Cheers,
Stan

Thank You Stan. Is there an on line site that I can see the other prints?
Thanks again,
Ruthann

Here:

http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/utamaro_kitagawa.html

Thanks, I have found this very usefull!

I was not able to find any of these prints online. I have seen others from the same series. That is as close as I came.

Apparently, there is an encyclopedic book of Utamaro's prints that includes most or all of his prints. I don't own it.

Cheers,
Stan

The publisher's mark (lower left corner) is of Tsuruya Kinsuke. There are many great books on Utamaro out there, in English and Japanese. In English I would recommend Asano and Clark's "The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro" it may not have your image but it will have others in the same series.

Thanks so much!

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