Utagawa of the Matsubaya

Ono no Komachi, a 9th-century poet renowned for her verse, was a popular subject among print artists who used her as a vehicle for comparing and equating modern women with classical ones. Komachi was reputed to be exceptionally beautiful and brilliant, and therefore highly desired by men. The legends around her life were codified into a series of seven episodes known as the “Seven Komachi.” In this image Kunisada presents a contemporary woman—Utagawa of the Matsubaya brothel, one of the Yoshiwara’s most glamorous courtesans—as Komachi. Both her garments and hair style reflect contemporary trends while a poem by Komachi surrounds her.