Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese: 喜多川 歌麿; 1753 - 1806) was a Japanese artist, is one of the most highly regarded designers of ukiyo-e woodblock prints and paintings, and is best known for his bijin ōkubi-e ""large-headed pictures of beautiful women"" of the 1790s. He also produced nature studies, particularly illustrated books of insects. He produced over 2000 known prints and was one of the few ukiyo-e artists to achieve fame throughout Japan in his lifetime.
Utamaro was recognized as a master in his own age. He influenced the European Impressionists. The reference to the ""Japanese influence"" among these artists often refers to the work of Utamaro. French artist-collectors of Utamaro's work included Monet, Degas, Gauguin, and Toulouse-Lautrec.
In 2016 Utamaro's Fukaku Shinobu Koi set the record price for an ukiyo-e print sold at auction at €745000.