Geisha Walking through the Snow at Night
Original title: Geisha Walking through the Snow at Night
kurzbeschreibung
Two women make their way through a snowy landscape at night. Kitagawa Utamaro made this woodblock print around 1797, working with ink and color on paper.
Description
A woman in a red kimono and gray outer robe leads the way, holding a large yellow-white umbrella and a lantern. Her hair is elaborately dressed and trimmed with flowers. Behind her walks a second woman in a black kimono with gold stripes, also under an umbrella. Both wear traditional footwear. Heavy snowfall fills the background, the pale flakes standing out sharply against the dark sky. The figures occupy the center, and the palette runs mostly dark, relieved by touches of red and gold.
Context
Utamaro made this print in the late Edo period, when the ukiyo-e woodblock reached a high point. He became famous for his pictures of women, especially geishas and courtesans. Walking through snow was a much-loved subject in Japanese art, one that underlined both elegance and transience. The print belongs to a series recording everyday scenes from the pleasure districts.
Impact
Quiet and contemplative, the image owes much of its mood to the snow at night. Dark masses meet glowing details of red and gold, producing a refined, almost intimate atmosphere. Placing the figures at the center draws the eye to their graceful movement and their clothing.
Technique
Ink and color on paper come together in this woodblock. Crisp lines and flat areas of color are typical of the ukiyo-e method, in which several blocks supplied the different colors. The finest details, in the hair and patterns for instance, attest to great craftsmanship.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)