A Courtesan (Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Met-Objekt 4500)
Original title: A Courtesan
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro's print 'A Courtesan' presents a woman in traditional Japanese dress. Executed as a woodblock print in ink and color on paper, its date of creation is not recorded. The sitter wears a voluminous black hair ornament and a patterned robe; her gaze is lowered.
Description
A large black headdress with a yellow stick and other accessories frames the woman's head. Her robe displays a grid of squares and blossoms in green and beige, enlivened by a red leaf motif. Looking downward, she plucks at the fabric with one hand. A fan appears in the background, and Chinese characters run along the left margin.
Context
Utamaro, a leading figure of the Japanese color woodblock print in the late eighteenth century, became known above all for his portraits of beautiful women (bijin-ga). This sheet belongs to the Edo period, when woodblock prints spread as an independent art form for an urban public. Courtesans ranked among the most popular subjects of the era and reflect the pleasure culture of the entertainment districts.
Impact
The woman's calm posture and lowered gaze create an intimate, reflective mood. Clear contours and a balanced palette give the image a serene, aesthetically poised presence.
Technique
Executed as a woodblock print in ink and color on paper, this method allows precise lines and flat coloring, as is characteristic of eighteenth-century Japanese color woodblock prints. The dimensions are 37.5 cm in height and 24.8 cm in width.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)