Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806)

Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806)
UTAMAKURA (POEM OF THE PILLOW)
Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806) Utamakura (Poem of the Pillow) THE COMPLETE SET WITH TEXT AND ORIGINAL COVERS, first edition, twelve erotic prints in one volume, with preface and 2 double-pages of end text, preface dated yatsu no hatsuharu (first month, 1788), published by Tsutaya Juzaburo, in original paper covers with title slip inscribed in ink--good impressions, generally good color though some pigments faded, embellishments of gauffrage and mica, some margins slightly soiled and stained Illustrations: 1. Abalone diver raped by scaly river monster ( kappa ) as her companion looks on in horror and fascination 2. Woman discovering another woman's love letter hidden in the robe of her young lover 3. Lovers beside a standing lantern 4. Lovers in front of plum blossom and bamboo-decorated screen 5. Maid from a samurai mansion with her lover 6. Kept mistress with a young lover beside a chrysanthemum-decorated screen 7. Widow and her lover beside an open veranda 8. Lovers beneath a blossoming cherry tree 9. Young woman fighting off rape by a hairy older man 10. Lovers in the private second-floor room of a teahouse 11. Portly married couple 12. Dutch couple oban yoko-e : 10½ x 15¼in. (27 x 38.8cm) each approx.