A Woman at Her Toilet Seated before a Mirror, Having Her Hair combed by a Kameyui (Woman Hairdresser)
Original title: A Woman at Her Toilet Seated before a Mirror, Having Her Hair combed by a Kameyui (Woman Hairdresser)
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro gives this print over to a domestic moment: a woman sits before a mirror while a kameyui, a female hairdresser, combs her hair. Undated, the colour woodblock from the Edo period was printed with ink and colour on paper and belongs among Utamaro's portrayals of women from the urban milieu.
Description
A woman has settled onto a low wooden table, and behind her stands the kameyui, drawing a comb through her hair. A second mirror appears further back, and in it one can make out a figure with a sword and another in traditional dress. Blues and greys govern the palette, as is common in Japanese woodblock prints. Crisp lines and clear contours define the figures, with no strong shadows or highlights.
Context
Utamaro ranks among the leading masters of ukiyo-e and concentrated on images of women. The kameyui, a female hairdresser, was a familiar subject in the urban Japan of the Edo period and offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the city's inhabitants. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the work and makes it available as public domain (CC0).
Impact
Concentration and closeness between the two women set the quiet, intimate mood. Restrained colours and a clear linear style contribute to an almost meditative atmosphere that draws the viewer into this private instant.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, executed as a woodblock print. The Japanese colour woodblock allowed for delicate lines and flat areas of colour, as seen in the clothing and the setting.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)