Back to ukiyo-e after a break.
From Eko-in sumo star Tanikaze, a Utamaro detour. His masterpiece series "Six Famous Beauties" (1794–95 Kansei) portrays six women: Naniwaya Okita, Tatsumi Roko, Takashimaya Ohisa, Ogi-ya Hanazono, Hinode-ya Goke, and Tomimoto Toyohina.
Each print bears a rebus "picture puzzle" on the shoulder naming the beauty—
e.g., Okita: two vegetable bundles and arrow for "Naniwaya," shore and rice field for "Okita" =photo right. Roko uses dragon, snake, oar, incense. Edo artists loved such wit.
The "Three Beauties" blogged Nov. 4—Okita, Toyohina, Ohisa—look subtly or greatly different here.
Among many Okita prints, this tea-server scene is prized—delicate eyes and hands, pale blue kimono, black obi, high Shimada knot, graceful nape. Ohisa appears with shaved brows as a married woman; Toyohina wears a headdress.
The other three—
Hanazono was Ogi-ya's top courtesan, writing a letter showing beauty and learning. Hinode-ya Goke (unnamed) after bath—moist, slightly erotic. Roko, a Fukagawa geisha, touches her hair alluringly.
These six faces likely reflect Utamaro's ideal beauty—not literal portraits, but savor what he felt.
Mainichi Newspapers once published ukiyo-e photo books including the Three Beauties—used copies appear online.