REVIEW: Utamaro Revealed (Gina Collia-Suzuki)

[Apex Reviews]

Utamaro Revealed
Gina Collia-Suzuki
ISBN: 9780955979606
Nezu Press
Reviewed By Cherie Mangum

Official Apex Reviews Rating:


Utamaro Revealed takes the reader on a detailed journey through the life and artistry of Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most well-known and widely renowned figures in the history of Japanese art. Primarily known for his regaling portraits of alluring, attractive women, Utamaro also created thousands of woodblock prints, featuring everything from historical icons to popular societal figures to skillfully crafted depictions of domestic life.

Within the pages of her tome, Gina Collia-Suzuki – an artist in her own right – has produced a comprehensive, all-inclusive resource regarding Utamaro’s chosen subjects and themes. Her exhaustive research into his artistry was spurred by her growing admiration for his considerable skills and talents, beginning with her realization of just how much technical expertise he displayed in honing them to relative perfection.

In addition to featuring Utamaro’s numerous creations, Collia-Suzuki also provides the reader with greater insight into his background and upbringing, shedding light on the formative influences that helped to mold his talent from an early age. Additionally, she exposes revealing truths about specific events in his life that contributed to the lore surrounding it, which serves the ultimate purpose of giving life to the man behind the myth.

By compiling the vast and sundry facets of Utamaro’s life into a single volume, Collia-Suzuki has made it possible for art lovers the world over to develop a similar appreciation for the artist’s oeuvre of lifelong work – and, hopefully, in so doing she inspires budding artists to aspire to the same level of unparalleled excellence in their own endeavors.