Utamaro Books

The Utamaro Books from The Fitzwilliam Museum

This app allows you to leaf through and interact with these beautiful 17th century books by the renowned Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (c.1753-1806). There are three books (a total of five volumes), each book is filled with unique and charming illustrations displaying consummate artistic skill of Utamaro. Each book also contains a selection of poems, kyōka – playful light verse – compiled by a leading member of the group of poets represented in the book.

The app allows you to leaf through these beautiful books and tap to see translations of the poems as well as see special printing effects used by Utamaro. The books include the Bird Books, the Insect Books and the Shell Book.