. Chats on Japanese prints. after 1800 the pressure of work broughtupon him by his great popularity, together with theeffects of a none too well spent life in the Yoshiwara,combined to strain his powers unduly. His workno longer kept its earlier freshness; his exaggera-tions became coarser ; his invention grew less began to rely on the assistance of his pupils, as weknow from his Book of the Green Houses (1804),in which several collaborated with him. Doubtlessmany an Utamaro print of this time is their work. In the year 1804 came the final upon the publication
. Chats on Japanese prints. after 1800 the pressure of work broughtupon him by his great popularity, together with theeffects of a none too well spent life in the Yoshiwara,combined to strain his powers unduly. His workno longer kept its earlier freshness; his exaggera-tions became coarser ; his invention grew less began to rely on the assistance of his pupils, as weknow from his Book of the Green Houses (1804),in which several collaborated with him. Doubtlessmany an Utamaro print of this time is their work. In the year 1804 came the final upon the publication of the well-knowntriptych representing the ancient Shogun Hideyoshientertaining his five concubines in the eastern quarterof the capital, the ruling Shogun lyenari tookumbrage at the salacious disrespect to his ancestorand the delicately implied allusion to himself, and Uta-maro was thrown into prison for his offence. Therehe remained, it is said, for a year; when he emerged,it was with impaired health and a broken spirit. UTAMARO : A YOUTHFUL PRINCE AND sheet of a triptych. Size 15 x to. Signed Utamaro, h/fsu. FOURTH PERIOD: THE DECADENCE 297 His productions after this time were not comparablewith his earlier woi . In the year 1806 he died, andwith him died the great days of the Japanese print. In this rapid survey it has been impossible todo justice to the many-sided powers of this greatdesigner. His beautiful landscapes, his fine animalpictures, the tender and whimsical mother-and-childand domestic scenes he produced, have all had tobe ignored in favour of his central achievements—his unparalleled designs of the courtesan of theYoshiwara in her weary glory. Certainly no morevaried and distinguished talent than his illuminesthe roll of Ukioye artists. Beside his perpetuallyfresh invention even the great Kiyonaga seemsstereotyped and academic. To-day the poorer examples of Utamaros workare still readily procurable. His greatest works arerare. Certain of his
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookidcu3192402333, bookyear1915
