The Seventh Hour of the Night
Original title: The Seventh Hour of the Night
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro made this colour woodblock print, The Seventh Hour of the Night, around 1800. It takes up a motif that recurs often in his work: ordinary Japanese life. The image presents an intimate indoor scene with two figures in traditional dress. One kneels, holding a book, while the other stands. The print was made with ink and colour on paper.
Description
On the left a figure kneels with a book in hand and pokes with a stick at a bowl containing charcoal and something inside it. To the right a second figure stands, looking toward the kneeling one. Both wear robes and traditional hair ornaments. A decorative curtain with leaf motifs forms the backdrop, and Chinese characters appear at the upper right. Earth tones dominate the palette, with accents of orange and blue.
Context
Utamaro is one of the defining artists of ukiyo-e and is known above all for his portrayals of women. This print dates from around 1800, in the late Edo period, when woodblock prints circulated widely in Japan. Scenes of daily life were among the central subjects of this art movement.
Impact
A calm, intimate mood settles over the image, and a quiet tension exists between the two figures. The earthy colours and evenly distributed light create a warm, domestic atmosphere. Finely executed lines and the detailed rendering of the clothing attest to the high craft quality of the print.
Technique
Ink and colour were transferred to paper by woodblock printing for this sheet. That technique allows precise lines and clear areas of colour, as is characteristic of ukiyo-e prints. The multi-colour execution suggests an elaborate process using several blocks.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)