18th Century Kitagawa Utamaro Woodblock Print, Mother and Child Gazing at a Hand Mirror, Framed

This listing is for an incredible example of Edo Period Japanese art.

This original woodblock print dates to 1795-1805 and is the work of Kitagawa Utamaro.

Utamaro is regarded as one of the most notable designers of ukiyo-e paintings and woodblock prints.

His pieces have been displayed in legendary galleries and museums across the globe, including the Metropolitan in New York.

This signed print is titled, “Mother and Child Gazing at a Hand Mirror,” from Furyu Kodakara Awase.

It depicts a mother and with child (behind) looking at their reflections in a handheld mirror.

This particular piece was actually once on display in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The provenance of this piece is that it was once part of the Leicester Harmsworth Collection.

Sir Leicester Harmsworth, 1st Baroner was a British businessman and politician (1870-1937). He was known for his vast collection of art, including a series of rare Japanese prints.

These prints were loaned, documented, and displayed in the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1913, 1914, and 1920.

This one does appear within the museum catalogues from these exhibitions.

After Harmsworth passed away, his collection was sold and scattered via auction.

This print was sold along with several others (that we have also listed for sale) in 1939.

The family that had purchased them has had them in their possession until now. We have been asked to sell them on their behalf. They have taken excellent care of their acquired collection.

We have bits of the museum tags, stamps, descriptions, and auction tags that were attached to the pieces of the collection. We can always send copies of these with the item if desired.

This piece comes framed. The frame measures 21 x 16.25 inches and the print itself measures 13.75 x 10.25 inches