The Coming Thunderstorm, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
Original title: The Coming Thunderstorm, from the illustrated book Flowers of the Four Seasons
kurzbeschreibung
A man steps through a doorway while a woman in the foreground pulls back a curtain: Kitagawa Utamaro's 1801 colour woodblock print 'The Approaching Storm' comes from the illustrated book 'Flowers of the Four Seasons' and shows several figures in traditional Japanese dress inside a room, reacting to a gathering storm.
Description
In a room with wooden walls and a plank floor, several figures appear. A man opens a door, while a woman in the foreground draws a curtain aside. Two other women kneel on the floor, handling a cloth or rug. A curtain partly divides the space. Vertical strokes in the background suggest rain. The palette stays muted with greys, browns and beiges, accented by red and orange.
Context
Utamaro made this sheet in 1801 for an illustrated book on the four seasons. The print dates from the late Edo period, when ukiyo-e was widespread in Japan. Utamaro was known for his portrayals of women and scenes of everyday life, which is also visible here. Artists often used the book format to publish series.
Impact
A calm but tense mood hangs over the image, making the approaching storm palpable. The way the figures handle doors and curtains directs attention to the threat from outside. The subdued colours create a restrained, almost intimate atmosphere.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a woodblock with ink and colour on paper. Sharp lines and a contrast-rich colour gradation characterise the Japanese woodblock technique. At 17.5 x 25.1 cm, the format corresponds to that of a typical book page.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)