Utamaro Woodblock Print – Women Artisans of Edo (江戸名物婦人職人) | Traditional Ukiyo-e Reproduction on Washi Paper

A beautiful ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro (喜多川歌麿), titled 「江戸名物婦人職人」(Edo Meibutsu Fujin Shokunin – “Famous Women Artisans of Edo”).
This elegant work depicts three women engaged in the traditional printmaking process — carving, inking, and pressing — revealing the delicate labor behind Edo’s artistic culture.

The piece is a 20th-century hand-printed reproduction of Utamaro’s late Edo masterpiece, produced using the same traditional techniques: keyblock carving, natural pigment application, and baren pressing on handmade washi paper.

The print is admired not only for its historical importance but also for its refined depiction of feminine grace, craftsmanship, and artistic pride — a rare theme in ukiyo-e that bridges art and artisanship.

Utamaro’s Women Artisans of Edo series was revolutionary in portraying women not merely as muses, but as creators — skilled printers, carvers, and painters.
In Edo Japan, each step of ukiyo-e production (design, carving, printing, publishing) required meticulous collaboration.
This print honors that collaboration, symbolizing the beauty of labor and the artistry of the handmade — a timeless theme connecting Edo culture to today’s appreciation of craftsmanship.

This print is an elegant homage to Edo craftsmanship and one of Utamaro’s most conceptually rich compositions.
An ideal piece for collectors of ukiyo-e, Japanese art history, or prints celebrating female artisanship and traditional crafts.
Perfect for framing in a Japanese art or design collection.