UTAMARO 喜多川歌麿 教訓親の目鏡「ばくれん」 Ukiyo-e Bijin-ga Reproduction Print | Edo Period Art

About the Artwork:
This beautiful ukiyo-e print is a modern reproduction of "Through the Parent’s Moralizing Spectacles: The Hussy" (教訓親の目鏡「ばくれん」), originally created by the legendary Edo-period master Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806).
Utamaro was celebrated for his delicate portraits of women (bijin-ga), capturing subtle expressions, daily pleasures, and refined beauty with psychological depth.

In this piece, a young woman enjoys a drink beside a crab — a playful and ironic depiction contrasting refined elegance with the sensual indulgence of modern pleasure. The title “Through the Parent’s Moralizing Spectacles” hints at social satire: the artist invites viewers to see how human desires appear when judged through moralistic eyes.

Cultural and Historical Significance:
Created during the golden age of ukiyo-e, this series represented a shift from idealized beauty to psychological realism. Utamaro’s works were admired in Japan and later influenced European Impressionists such as Degas and Toulouse-Lautrec.

This reproduction was published by The Daily Yomiuri in collaboration with the Honolulu Academy of Arts, as part of an educational project introducing classical Japanese art to international audiences. The back of the print includes a commentary by novelist Endō Shūsaku, offering insight into Japanese aesthetics and social culture.

Why It’s Special:

• Faithful museum-authorized reproduction of a rare Edo masterpiece

• Features full Japanese text and historical commentary

• Printed on fine archival-quality paper

• A collectible and decorative art print for lovers of Japanese culture, ukiyo-e, and fine art history

Bring the elegance and wit of Edo Japan into your space — a timeless piece that bridges classical art and modern appreciation.