The Golden Age of Color Prints: Ukiyo-e from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

This second masterworks exhibition of color prints(Ukiyo-e) in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, focuses on the golden age of nishiki-e, showcasing about 140 works by Kiyonaga, Utamaro, and Sharaku and others. Kiyonaga's trademark subject of beautiful slender women can be seen in his Hinagata wakana no hatsu moyo (Models for Fashion: New Year Designs as Fresh as Young Leaves) series, represented in this exhibition by color-intact impressions in an excellent state of preservation. There will also be many examples of Utamaro's early works and yakusha-e, both of which survive in only very small numbers today, and ôkubi-e, generally thought to represent the pinnacle of Utamaro's art. Another of the many highlights of this exhibition is the assembly of 21 works by Sharaku, which allows visitors to trace the evolution of the artist's work.