Erotic Print (Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Met-Objekt 4587)
Original title: Erotic Print
kurzbeschreibung
Two figures in traditional Japanese dress appear in a familiar situation in this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro. Executed in ink and color on paper, the sheet dates to the late eighteenth or early nineteenth century.
Description
A purple kimono with a floral pattern falls around the woman, while the man wears a red obi. The way their bodies are positioned toward each other suggests an intimate encounter. Cups, bowls, and a cloth complete the pictorial space. Japanese characters surround the scene and presumably offer clues to the figures or the action. Red, purple, and gray dominate the palette.
Context
Utamaro was among the leading masters of ukiyo-e and was especially known for his portrayals of women and his elegant flow of line. Shunga, erotic prints, formed a significant genre within ukiyo-e and often served as gifts or for private use. The exact date of this work is not recorded, but Utamaro created his best-known works in the 1790s.
Impact
The subdued coloring and even distribution of light make the intimate encounter seem restrained rather than explicit. Delicately drawn lines and the patterns of the kimonos lend the sheet an aesthetic elegance that reaches beyond its erotic content.
Technique
For this woodblock print, the motif was cut into wooden blocks and then transferred to paper with color. Ink and color on paper were common for ukiyo-e prints, with multiple blocks used for the different colors.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)