In the Kitchen
ca. 1794–95
Medium
Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 15 × 10 in. (38.1 × 25.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Accession Number
JP1675
Tags
Art Historical Context
**In the Kitchen**, created by the renowned Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro 1794–95, offers a vivid glimpse into everyday life during Japan's Edo period (16151868). This right-hand sheet from a diptych of woodblock prints captures women engaged in domestic tasks amid the bustle of a kitchen, highlighting Utamaro's mastery ofbijin-ga*—portraits of beautiful women. As a leading figure in the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), Utamaro elevated ordinary scenes with his keen eye for feminine grace, subtle expressions, and intricate details of clothing and surroundings. Printed with ink a...
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...