The Exile of Yukihira at Suma
Original title: The Exile of Yukihira at Suma
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro made this colour woodblock print in 1789, taking up an episode from the life of the poet Ariwara no Yukihira. Ink and colour on paper carry the image, which brings the main figure forward with a fan in hand while two companions study him.
Description
Three figures govern the layout. One stands with his back to us, holding a fan, facing two others who watch him closely. The central figure wears traditional Japanese dress and a hat; the pair opposite are dressed much the same and hold themselves with an air of worry or sorrow. Trees, waves and a clouded sky close off the top of the picture. Tones stay muted, recalling inherited Japanese shades, and the light falls evenly, giving the scene a quiet mood.
Context
The print dates from 1789, in the Edo period, when woodblock printing held a central place in Japanese art. Utamaro, well known above all for his images of women, here turns to a literary subject. The tale of Yukihira, a ninth-century poet exiled to Suma, was a favourite theme in Japanese art and literature. This sheet belongs to a series devoted to famous places and legends.
Impact
A calm, almost wistful atmosphere settles over the scene, produced by the subdued colours and the even light. Seeing the main figure frontally, from behind, creates a detached yet insistent effect that draws the viewer into the story. The clear arrangement leads the eye to the central figure and conveys a sense of parting and resignation.
Technique
Colour woodblock printing depends on pressing ink and colour onto paper. The design is cut in wood, inked and then transferred to the sheet, with several blocks needed for the different colours. Precise lines and graded colouring attest to Utamaro's craft and to the exactness of Japanese woodblock art.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)