Cherry viewing at Gotenyama By Kitagawa, Utamaro.
Gotenyama no hanami hidari
Print shows three women, one holding a parasol and one speaking to the third woman who is holding out a pair of zori for the woman exiting a sedan chair (see FP 2 - JPD, no. 2289), with cherry blossoms above and sailboats in the background. It is generally agreed that he started his career as a pupil of the painter Toriyama Sekien. His early known works are actor portraits and theater programs.Since 1791 Utamaro concentrated his work on single portraits of women. He took his models from the street or from the pleasure district Yoshiwara. The stories of his love affairs with the ladies of the "licensed quarters" are said to be abundant.