← Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Women Near a River

Original title: Women Near a River

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date

ca. 1850

Medium

Triptych of woodblock prints; ink, silver, and color on paper

Dimensions

a) H. 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm); W. 10 1/8 in. (25.7 cm) b): H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); W. 10 3/8 in. (26.4 cm) c): H. 14 13/16 in. (37.6 cm); W. 10 1/16 in. (25.6 cm)

Credit line

Rogers Fund, 1919

kurzbeschreibung

Utagawa Kuniyoshi made this triptych, Frauen an einem Fluss, around 1850. It places three women in traditional Japanese dress within a river landscape. The print was produced as a colour woodblock, with ink, silver and further colours applied to paper.

Description

Three women in richly decorated kimonos and traditional headdresses stand in a natural setting, a river behind them. Their posture and gestures are calm and thoughtful. Trees, clouds and a river with boats make up the background. Blues and greys dominate the palette, with red and white providing accents. The arrangement is symmetrical: the women occupy the middle, while trees and river step back in layers behind them.

Context

Kuniyoshi ranks among the significant artists of late Edo-period ukiyo-e woodblock printing. This sheet dates from around 1850, when he was best known for scenes drawn from history and literature. Women in landscapes were a common subject in the printmaking of the period.

Impact

The women's quiet, reflective bearing and the evenly spread light give the image a contemplative mood. Crisp contours and a restrained palette lend it a lasting elegance.

Technique

The triptych consists of three woodblock prints, printed with ink, silver and colour on paper. Sharp outlines and clearly separated areas of colour are typical of Edo-period woodblock printing.

AI-generated description text

Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)