Evening Faces
Original title: Evening Faces
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike related sheets from the same series, this woodblock print by Utagawa Kuniyoshi, made around 1845–46, puts a woman carrying a fan, dressed in traditional Japanese clothing, at the center together with a dog. A wintry landscape with falling snow and birds frames the pair.
Description
Her brightly colored kimono stands out against a red ground whose pattern seems to lift free of the fabric. The pale dog at her side looks caught in motion. Snowflakes fall behind the two figures, and several birds appear in the sky, hinting at the winter mood. A spray of flowers with blue and white blossoms and leaves hovers above the woman's head. Inscribed panels surround the subject and presumably carry the title and a description.
Context
A major figure of Edo-period ukiyo-e, Kuniyoshi was known in the 1840s above all for beauties and historical scenes, and this sheet belongs to that phase. The wintry setting and the detailed execution match the printmaking of the period. The work takes its place within a series of evening subjects.
Impact
Crisp lines and strong color contrasts give the image liveliness without upsetting its balance. The winter atmosphere feels quiet and contemplative, while the dog's movement adds a light swing to the arrangement.
Technique
Ink and color reached the paper in several printing passes, with blue, white and red predominating. Sharp contours and flatly applied color are typical of the ukiyo-e method.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)