A Young Man and Three Women and Oxcart in Front of Mimeguri Shrine c. 1781 - 1806

This ukiyo-e woodblock print, created by the renowned artist Kitagawa Utamaro, depicts a young man and three women standing outside the Mimeguri Shrine in Edo. Utamaro was a master of depicting beautiful women, and his work is characterized by its delicate lines and vibrant colors. The print, a classic example of the *bijin-ga* genre, captures the elegance and sophistication of Edo's fashion and social life. The composition, with its focus on the figures and their elaborate costumes, reflects the fascination with the beauty of everyday life that was central to ukiyo-e art.