← Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Lady-in-Waiting at Edo Castle

Original title: Lady-in-Waiting at Edo Castle

Artist

Utagawa Kuniyoshi

Date

ca. 1854–60 (Ansei era)

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk

Dimensions

Image: 35 7/8 × 11 1/2 in. (91.2 × 29.2 cm) Overall with mounting: 70 3/4 × 16 3/8 in. (179.7 × 41.6 cm) Overall with knobs: 70 3/4 × 18 1/2 in. (179.7 × 47 cm)

Credit line

Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in honor of Barbara Brennan Ford, 2020

kurzbeschreibung

Utagawa Kuniyoshi’s hanging scroll “Hofdame im Edo-Schloss” dates from around 1854–60, in the Ansei era. Executed in ink and color on silk, it presents a woman in traditional dress leaning against a wooden table.

Description

At first the eye is drawn to the central female figure, placed before a latticed window. Her colorful robe with floral and leaf patterns, along with her hair ornaments, command attention. In a contemplative pose, one hand resting at her chin, she appears withdrawn. Muted colors and even lighting suggest an interior scene. The layout is vertical and symmetrical.

Context

Kuniyoshi ranks among the outstanding ukiyo-e artists of the Edo period. Created during the politically turbulent Ansei era, the motif of the court lady points to the shogun’s female court at Edo Castle and thus to courtly life.

Impact

The woman’s calm, thoughtful pose and the subdued color range create an intimate, quiet mood. Through the symmetrical arrangement and clear lines, the picture gains a balanced, formal elegance.

Technique

As a hanging scroll (kakemono), the work is executed in ink and color on silk. The painting follows traditional Japanese art with clear contours and emphasizes detailed patterns, such as those visible in the robe.

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