← Kitagawa Utamaro

Kiyomizu Komachi, from the series Futabagusa nana Komachi

Original title: Kiyomizu Komachi, from the series Futabagusa nana Komachi

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Date

1790s

Medium

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Dimensions

H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); W. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914

kurzbeschreibung

This colour woodblock print from the 1790s by Kitagawa Utamaro brings together three women in an interior. It belongs to the series 'Futabagusa nana Komachi' and is executed as a nishiki-e.

Description

Three women in traditional Japanese dress fill the room: one sits on the floor holding a flower, a second kneels also with a flower, and the third looks out through a window. The garments show elaborate patterns in red and green. The layout feels balanced, with the figures arranged side by side.

Context

In the 1790s, a golden age of Japanese colour woodblock printing, Utamaro created the series 'Futabagusa nana Komachi'. It refers to the legendary poet Ono no Komachi, whose life is told in seven episodes. Utamaro was known for his portrayals of women, especially scenes from the pleasure quarter of Edo.

Impact

Quiet symmetry and clear lines create a harmonious, traditional mood. The lively colours and the precise rendering of the clothing draw the eye to the elegance of the figures.

Technique

Several colour blocks were used for this print, achieving a multi-coloured result in the nishiki-e technique. Printing was done with ink and colour on paper; the lines are cut clearly and precisely.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)