O Shichi and Kichisaburo
Original title: O Shichi and Kichisaburo
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro made this color woodblock print around 1780. It presents two figures in traditional Japanese dress. Ink and color were applied to paper, and the sheet measures 62.9 cm in height and 13.5 cm in width. The narrow vertical format matches the trim commonly used in the Edo period for portraying single figures or pairs.
Description
At the top stands a figure in a broad dark hat and green robe, upright, gaze turned slightly to the left. Below appears a second figure with a yellow hat and a black robe patterned in red; the head is tilted, the eyes looking upward. Both have the pronounced features and hairstyles of the Edo period. Chinese characters, likely names or a title, accompany the pictorial space. Dark tones dominate, with red and green as accents; the light falls evenly, without hard shadows.
Context
Utamaro ranks among the major artists of ukiyo-e and became known above all for his images of women and actors. The print was made in the late Edo period, a phase of cultural flourishing in Japan. The figures may refer to a kabuki play or a well-known tale of those years, as was often the case with ukiyo-e prints.
Impact
The narrow vertical arrangement draws the eye at once to the two figures and their confrontation. Clear contours and restrained color give the sheet a quiet, collected presence. Because the lower figure tilts the head, a slight movement enters the image and keeps it alive.
Technique
For printing, the design was cut into woodblocks, inked with color, and pulled onto paper. Ink and color on paper correspond to the usual method of Japanese color woodblock printing. Crisp lines and flatly applied colors attest to the careful craftsmanship of ukiyo-e prints.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)