Daimonjiya uchi Hitomoto

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 383 mm x breedte 259 mm

Art Historical Context

**Daimonjiya uchi Hitomoto** is a captivating color woodcut by Kitagawa Utamaro one of the masters of ukiyo-e, Japan's "pictures of the floating world," created around 1795–1800 the Edo period. This, measuring 383 mm high by 259 mm wide (a standard ōban format), likely portrays Hitomoto, a courtes or beauty from the Daimjiya house in Yoshiwara, Tokyo's famed pleasure district. Utam's bijin-ga (images of beautiful women) celebrated the elegance of these women, capturing their poise, intricate kimonos, and subtle expressions amid the vibrant urban life of 18th-century Japan. Utamaro's genius shines in his innovative woodblock techniques, employing nishiki-e (brocade prints) with up to 10–20 color blocks for luminous gradients and fine textures. His flowing lines and intimate close-ups revolutionized portraiture, emphasizing psychology and fashion over rigid poses. These affordable prints democratized art, adorning homes of merchants and samurai alike. This work exemplifies ukiyo-e's cultural pulse—ephemeral pleasures, fashion, and sensuality—preserving a snapshot of Yoshiwara's allure before Utamaro's death in 1806. A window into Japan's golden age of printmaking, it invites us to admire the artistry behind everyday beauty. (198 words)

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...