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Kitagawa Utamaro, Women sewing, a triptych of colour woodblock prints

1794/1795

British Museum

British Museum
London, United Kingdom

Utamaro depicted more types of women, in various activities, than any other Ukiyo-e artist. A group of respectable married women, surrounded by their children and even a pet cat are working together on a hot summer's day folding and mending obi sashes. On the right, two of them stretch and fold a red silk sash tie-dyed with a white 'starfish' pattern. On the left, the sewing equipment scattered on the floor suggests that this woman is holding up the sash to check a mend she has just made in the fine gauze This gives Utamaro a chance to exploit one of his favourite technical tricks of depicting figures seen through gauze.Ateenage girl examines an insect, perhaps a firefly, in its tiny cage. A little boy teases a cat with its reflection in a mirror, while a baby plays with its mother's fan. Although the scene is one of warm domesticity, Utamaro still introduces a note of eroticismin the partially revealed breasts and legs of the figures clad lightly against the summer heat.

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  • Title: Kitagawa Utamaro, Women sewing, a triptych of colour woodblock prints
  • Date Created: 1794/1795
  • Physical Dimensions: Height: 37.30cm (right); Width: 24.80cm (right); Height: 37.20cm (centre); Width: 24.80cm (centre); Height: 37.20cm (left); Width: 24.70cm (left); Height: 560.00mm (Mount); Width: 916.00mm (Mount)
  • External Link: British Museum collection online
  • Technique: woodblock
  • Subject: needlework; cat
  • Registration number: 1912,0416,0.220
  • Production place: Published in Edo
  • Producer: Print artist Utamaro, Kitagawa. Published by Uemura Yohei
  • Period/culture: Kansei Era
  • Material: paper
  • Copyright: Photo: © Trustees of the British Museum
  • Acquisition: Purchased from Paterson, W B
British Museum

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