A Pair of Lovers
1795
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 14 3/4 in. (37.5 cm); W. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1922
Accession Number
JP1277
Tags
Art Historical Context
**A Pair of Lovers** by Kitagawa Utam, created in 1795, is a captivating woodblock print Japan's Edo period (16151868). Measuring 14¾ × 10 inches, this ink and color on paper work exemplifies the ukiyo-e tradition, "pictures of the floating world," celebrated the pleasures and ephemera of urban life cities like Edo (modern Tokyo). Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Asian Department, it was acquired through the Rogers Fund in 2. Utamaro was a master of *bijin-ga*—portraits of beautiful women—known for his elegant depictions of courtesans, geisha, and intimate moments. Here, the tender ...
About the Artist
Kitagawa Utamaro · 1753–1806
Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753-1806) was one of the most celebrated masters of ukiyo-e woodblock printing, revolutionizing the art of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) during Japan's Edo period. Born Kitagawa Ichitaro, his early life remains shrouded in mystery, with conflicting accounts placing his birth in Kyoto, Osaka, Yoshiwara in Edo (modern Tokyo), or Kawagoe in Musashi Province. Under the t...