Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge (ca. 1800, Met-Objekt 4487)
Original title: Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many related prints that center on a single figure, this work by Kitagawa Utamaro, dated around 1800, opens up a polyphonic picture: three sheets of a hexaptych, executed as a woodblock print in ink and color on paper, gather a crowd of women in traditional Japanese dress who stand together on a bridge and converse informally.
Description
The layout shows a row of women distributed across the bridge; they wear kimonos and obi, some hold parasols or fans as protection from the sun, and a few have a baby with them. The arrangement feels orderly without being strictly symmetrical, and it lets the figures stand out as the main subject. A calm evening mood arises from muted tones and soft light that runs through the entire view.
Context
Kitagawa Utamaro is one of the outstanding representatives of Japanese woodblock printing of the Edo period and is known for his depictions of women. This sheet, made around 1800, falls into a phase when ukiyo-e prints were widely circulated in Japan. Scenes from the everyday life of women were among the artist's recurring motifs, through which he captured the elegance and beauty of urban life.
Impact
The restrained, soft colors contribute substantially to the peaceful underlying tone and make the evening quiet perceptible. The orderly structure and the careful rendering of figures and garments create a harmonious overall impression that feels aesthetically coherent without being insistent.
Technique
The print was made as a woodblock print with ink and color on paper. Three sheets of a six-part work join to form a wide view. Clear contours and precise execution of details correspond to traditional Japanese woodblock art.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)