Teahouse girl and servant: Snow from the series Comparison of Snow, Moon and Flower Beauty
Original title: Teahouse girl and servant: Snow from the series Comparison of Snow, Moon and Flower Beauty
kurzbeschreibung
Kitagawa Utamaro made this color woodblock print in the late 18th century. It pictures two women in a teahouse: one wears a flat hat trimmed with flowers, the other a traditional hat and a patterned kimono. The sheet belongs to a series that treats snow, moon, and flowers as a comparison of beauties.
Description
Up front stands a woman in a large flat hat adorned with flowers. Her face has a soft, thoughtful cast, and blossoms pattern her robe. Behind her a second woman appears, also hatted, smiling faintly; her kimono carries geometric designs. Both hold umbrellas. A sign with Chinese characters and floral motifs hangs in the distance. Earth tones govern the palette, with touches of red and gold.
Context
This series by Utamaro dates from the 1790s, a high point of ukiyo-e woodblock printing. Women of the teahouse quarter were a favored subject, one that touched on the passing of beauty and the seasons. Comparing snow, moon, and flowers was a long-standing motif in Japanese art and literature.
Impact
A calm, intimate mood shapes the arrangement. The figures are caught in an everyday moment. Crisp lines and harmonious color give the sheet an elegant, quiet atmosphere.
Technique
A multicolor woodblock print, with ink and colors pressed onto paper. Extremely fine lines and precise patterns are typical of Japanese color printing, in which several blocks are used for the different colors.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)