The Oiran Hanaogi of Ogiya, from the series 'Six Jewel Rivers' (Mutamagawa)
Original title: The Oiran Hanaogi of Ogiya, from the series “Six Jewel Rivers” (Mutamagawa)
kurzbeschreibung
This colour woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, made around 1795–96, features the famous courtesan Hanaogi of the Yoshiwara. It belongs to the series 'Mutamagawa', which pairs six notable rivers with beauties. Both subject and printing method are typical of Edo-period ukiyo-e.
Description
A seated woman in a dark kimono patterned with flowers holds a plant in her hands. Ribbons and hairpins adorn her elaborately styled hair. Behind her appears a patterned table, and at upper right an oval medallion with drawings and characters; the ground remains a single beige tone.
Context
The series dates to about 1795–96, a high point of Japanese colour woodblock printing. The 'Six Jewel Rivers' refer to famous rivers associated with poetic imagery. Hanaogi, a well-known oiran of the Ogiya house, was a marketable subject. In the late Edo period, the beauty cult of ukiyo-e reached its peak.
Impact
The figure's calm, frontal seated pose conveys quiet dignity. Delicately drawn lines and muted colours create a refined, restrained mood. The oval medallion enlivens the layout and alludes to literary tradition.
Technique
The print was produced as a woodblock print with ink and colours on paper. Full-colour printing (nishiki-e) allowed fine gradations and patterns. The contours are crisply cut, and the colour areas are clearly separated.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)