Women and a Man in the Country; Some pageant(?)
Original title: Women and a Man in the Country; Some pageant(?)
kurzbeschreibung
Women and one man appear in a rural setting across a triptych by Kitagawa Utamaro, printed in color woodblock on paper during the Edo period. Groups of figures in traditional dress meet a landscape of mountains and trees.
Description
Three separate woodblock sheets are mounted side by side. At left, several women in colorful kimonos and hats stand together, some in conversation, with mountains and rivers behind them. A woman kneels at the center while others stand watching; one wears a large fan on her head. On the right, a group has gathered around a large bucket, and a person holds a bowl. Reds, blues, yellows, and greens feel lively, and the garments are richly patterned and detailed.
Context
Kitagawa Utamaro ranks among the outstanding ukiyo-e artists of late eighteenth-century Japan. He became famous for his portrayals of women, often from the pleasure quarters. The exact date of this work is not recorded, but it belongs to the Edo period. The triptych format was much favored at the time for narrative scenes, often with travel or seasonal themes.
Impact
Strong colors and a balanced layout give the view a calm, harmonious mood. The elaborate kimonos and the rural surroundings suggest an idyllic everyday life. The interaction among the figures invites the viewer to work out what is happening.
Technique
Printing used ink and color on paper, with a separate woodblock cut for each color and then printed in layers. The individual sheets differ slightly in size, a result of the handmade process.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)