Kitagawa Utamaro’s woodblock print Takashima Ohisa is widely celebrated for its delicate beauty and sophisticated symbolism. Though it is a seemingly simple portrait of a young woman adjusting her coiffure, every element is loaded with meaning, reflecting Edo-period culture, notions of femininity, social identity, and artistic philosophy.
Self-Reflection and Social Gaze
The most immediate symbol in the print is the dual mirrors Ohisa uses to examine her hairstyle. Mirrors in Japanese art often symbolise self-awareness, introspection, and the duality between private self and public appearance. By portraying her with two mirrors, Utamaro emphasises the act of self-examination, both literal (adjusting her hair) and metaphorical (considering how she is perceived by society).
This motif also subtly comments on the urban gaze: young women in Edo’s bustling entertainment districts were constantly aware of being observed, whether by patrons, fellow townspeople, or the viewer of the print itself. The mirrors reflect not only her image but the layered expectations imposed upon her.
The Fan and Shop Crest
Ohisa is associated with the Takashimaya tea shop, signaled by the triple oak-leaf (mitsu-gashiwa) crest on her fan. This inclusion identifies her without explicitly naming her. Symbolically, the crest and fan link her personal beauty to her social environment, suggesting that her identity is intertwined with her profession and the urban culture of Edo.
Here, the fan itself is also a symbol of refinement, femininity, and performance—an accessory that communicates taste, social role, and status.
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Background and Spatial Symbolism
The pale or mica background isolates Ohisa from any specific environment, creating a timeless, almost ethereal space. This abstraction focuses attention entirely on the subject and symbolises idealised beauty beyond mundane reality. In other words, Utamaro elevates the woman from everyday life to a symbol of aesthetic and cultural ideals.
This abstraction symbolises the elevation of the figure: she is transformed from a young tea-house waitress of Edo into an emblem of aesthetic and cultural ideals, detached from everyday reality.
Recommended Book
For readers wanting a scholarly yet accessible deep-dive into Utamaro’s work (including prints like Takashima Ohisa), consider:
Utamaro and the Spectacle of Beauty by Julie Nelson Davis (Reaktion Books, Revised & Expanded Edition, 2021) — This book offers detailed contextual analysis of Utamaro’s artistry, his commercial print environment in Edo, and his handling of beauty, identity, and celebrity.
For a more exhaustive catalogue-style reference: The Passionate Art of Kitagawa Utamaro by Shūgō Asano & Timothy Clark (British Museum Press, 1995) — A two-volume set covering over 500 works of Utamaro, useful if you’re looking for detailed visual reference and bibliographic depth.
Utamaro’s Symbolic Genius
While at first glance Takashima Ohisa appears as a portrait of feminine beauty, its symbolism runs deep:
Mirrors – self-reflection, duality of identity, societal gaze
Fan & Crest – social identity, profession, refinement
Hair & Kimono – youth, fashion, ephemeral beauty
Gaze & Gesture – agency, sensuality, private vs. public
Background – ethereal, idealised space
Poem – fleeting pleasure, cultural context
Utamaro’s artistry lies in embedding these rich symbolic layers in a seemingly simple image, creating a timeless work that captures both individuality and cultural ideals of Edo Japan.
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