Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with Koharu of Kinokuniya
Original title: Jihei of Kamiya Eloping with Koharu of Kinokuniya
kurzbeschreibung
A love drama from Chikamatsu's repertoire supplies the subject of this colour woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro from around 1800: Jihei of the Kamiya house and Koharu of Kinokuniya appear in intimate proximity, set against a dark ground filled with characters. The source was 'Meido no Hikyaku' (The Courier from the Underworld).
Description
In front stands a figure with a white head covering, holding a small box. Behind appears a second person with long black hair and a red upper garment; both wear traditional Japanese robes. Chinese characters, likely a title or description, fill the background. Black and white dominate the colour scheme, with red and white providing accents on the figures.
Context
Created in the late Edo period, when ukiyo-e prints enjoyed great popularity with the public, this sheet draws on Chikamatsu Monzaemon's famous love drama, first performed in 1794. Theatre scenes were then a staple of Japanese printmaking.
Impact
The tight alignment of the two figures creates closeness and at the same time an impression of haste. Dark areas of the background meet light, coloured garments, and this contrast directs the gaze to the emotional interplay of those involved.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, printed from several woodblocks, one for each colour — a hallmark of the ukiyo-e technique with its clear contours and flat areas of colour. The sheet measures 34.9 x 25.4 cm.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)