Utamaro designed a large number of woodblock prints, some of which were published individually and others together in a picture book. One of Utamaro’s most famous picture books was entitled Momochidori Kyōka Awase (i.e., Birds Compared in Humorous Verses), published in 1790-1. The book’s fifteen pictures are shown in this gallery. Click on a picture to enlarge it. During the late 1700s and early 1800s composing poems was a popular cultural activity in Japan and many of these poems were published. Artists such as Utamaro were asked to provide drawings to accompany published poetry. English translations of the poems appearing on pictures in this gallery are given in the exhibition entitled Bird Prints with Japanese Poems.

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