Erotic Print (Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Met-Objekt 4594)
Original title: Erotic Print
kurzbeschreibung
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures an intimate encounter between two figures in traditional Japanese dress. Executed in ink and color on paper, it dates from around 1800.
Description
Two figures lie closely entwined, one on her back while the other kneels above her, touching her. Their robes carry floral patterns in red, gray, and blue. Cups, bowls, and a tray of food can be made out behind them. The layout is asymmetrical, drawing the eye to the figures in the foreground, and an even light without shadows falls across the whole scene.
Context
Utamaro ranks among the defining artists of ukiyo-e in late eighteenth-century Japan. Shunga, or erotic prints, were widespread during the Edo period and tolerated despite official censorship. Utamaro produced several shunga series, noted for their close observation of human intimacy.
Impact
Clear contours and a restrained, harmonious palette give the sheet a quiet, familiar mood. The off-balance arrangement of the view pulls attention toward the couple and makes the moment feel immediately close.
Technique
For this print the design was cut into woodblocks and transferred to paper with ink and color. Several colors demanded very precise registration of the individual blocks.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)