Three Beauties of the Present Day 1793

Kitagawa Utamaro rendered this polychrome woodblock print depicting three celebrated beauties of his time. Consider the subtle gesture of each woman’s hand: one delicately adjusts her collar, another holds a fan adorned with a floral motif. These are not merely decorative elements. The fan, for instance, appears across cultures as a symbol of status and refinement, from ancient Egypt to Renaissance Europe, often associated with goddesses and female figures. Think of the ancient Greek goddess Iris, often depicted with a fan, linking her to messages and transitions. The floral motif reminds us of seasonal change, of life's transience, a universal theme explored through art across millennia. The careful arrangements of hair and clothing further speak to layers of meaning. These details echo across time, embodying notions of beauty that engage us on a deep, subconscious level. Beauty as a cultural ideal transcends geographical boundaries. Like the recurring motifs of a dream, beauty resurfaces, evolves, and takes on new meanings across cultures.