Plovers by Utamaro II, d Ukiyoe Standard Apron

Plovers By Utamaro II, d. . Chidori no tamagawa Print shows two women, one kneeling and writing on a scroll, the other standing nearby watching her. Utamaro, in common with most Japanese, changed his name as he became mature, and took the name Ichitaro Yusuke as he became older. His first major professional artistic work, at about the age of 22, in 1775, seems to have been the cover for a Kabuki playbook, under the go (art name) of Toyoaki. He then produced a number of actor and warrior prints, along with theatre programmes, and other such material. From the spring of 1781, he switched his go to Utamaro, and started painting and designing fairly forgettable woodblock prints of women.