Young Mother Nursing Her Baby
Original title: Young MotHer Nursing Her Baby
kurzbeschreibung
A young woman in traditional Japanese dress nurses her baby. Kitagawa Utamaro captured this intimate moment of maternal tenderness in a color woodblock print on paper, printed with ink and color. The sheet dates from the Edo period and belongs to the portrayals of mothers and children that the artist returned to repeatedly.
Description
A wide black hairband holds the woman's hair back; her robe is light. The baby lies in her arms, and she bends her head down toward it lovingly. The background stays plain, with only a floral pattern visible on the floor. Earth tones dominate the palette, while the black of the hairband and the light robe form a strong contrast. Japanese characters appear at the upper right, giving the title or the artist's name.
Context
Kitagawa Utamaro ranks among the outstanding figures of Japanese woodblock printing in the Edo period (1603–1868) and is known above all for his portrayals of women, including many motifs from the pleasure quarters. This sheet belongs to a series about mothers and children, a theme that recurs throughout his work. No exact date is given, but it was made during his mature period around 1790–1800. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds the work and makes it available under the free CC0 license.
Impact
A quiet, intimate mood emanates from this print and lets the viewer share in a private moment. Clear lines and a harmonious palette give the everyday subject a timeless elegance and a sense of dignity.
Technique
The sheet was printed as a woodblock print (ukiyo-e) with ink and color on paper. The sharp lines and clear shadows typical of this technique stand out distinctly and emphasize the forms of the body. Several printing passes applied the colors, with earth tones predominating.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)