Artist: Utamaro I (?) 
Title: A Chinese beauty with her maid
Date: ca. 1790
Format: jugiriban
Size: 8 1/4'' x 4 5/8''
 
Fine impression & condition, faded. Metal dust printed along the collar of Chinese kimono and her hair ornaments.
 
The clothing, hair ornaments, and hair styles are all Chinese. Utamaro designed a triptych in 1790 depicting women dressed in Chinese style. It is possible that this surimono was also designed and issued privately in the same year that " The print was probably published to coincide with an embassy from the Ryukyu Islands in 1790. Japanese of the time perceived the Ryukyuans as 'Chinese'. See British Museum # 1909,0618,o.84.1-3 for the triptych.
 
*We are still researching this print. It appears to be a rare print and to our knowledge appears to be unrecorded in the literature.