Which ukiyo-e artist created the print Three Beauties of the Present Day?

Kitagawa Utamaro created the ukiyo-e print Three Beauties of the Present Day.

Published in the 1790s, the print presents three celebrated women of Edo: Tomimoto Tehina, Takashima Ohisa, and Naniwa Whales. They were not simply generic beauties; each was a recognizable woman associated with fashionable urban life. Utamaro arranged their heads and upper bodies in a compact composition that emphasizes facial expression, hairstyle, and subtle differences in appearance.

The work helped establish Utamaro’s reputation for refined portraits of women. His prints often used the ōkubi-e format, which enlarged the head and upper body so that facial features and elaborate hair could receive unusual attention. The print is sometimes described as showing idealized beauty rather than realistic portraiture. Its title also reflects the Edo fascination with lists and rankings of famous places, performers, restaurants, and people.