Purchased at the "Masterpieces of Ukiyo-e from the Guimet Museum of Asian Arts" exhibition held at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art in Tokyo in 2009. It's a file with a wonderful design, not just the artwork. The delicate lines, characteristic of Utamaro, express the movement of the woman's fingertips and the softness of the cat's fur. Combined with the subject matter, it's the epitome of elegance. The exhibition showcased 190 Ukiyo-e pieces from the collection of the Musée Guimet in France, with the Ukiyo-e that had traveled from Japan to France returning to Japan once more. * About Kitagawa Utamaro's "Picture of Brothers (Onna San no Miya)" The scene depicted is the famous one from The Tale of Genji, where "Onna San no Miya" chases a Tang cat and appears from behind a bamboo screen (misu), only to be spied upon by Kashiwagi. It's not just a beautiful woman painting; Utamaro's delicate lines express the movement of the woman's fingertips and the softness of the cat's fur. The intellectual playfulness of linking the classical world with everyday life in Edo through the "cat," a symbol of the Heian aristocracy, was popular with the citizens of Edo at the time. It depicts a modern beauty, dressed in the fashion of the Kansei era (1790s) in Edo, playing with a cat. * Clear file, A4 size 31cm x 22cm * Used once and then stored. There are no major scratches or stains, but when held up to the light, fine scratches and discoloration can be seen. * Price includes commission and shipping.