Rijst plantend meisje

About this artwork

Meisje met pijp in de mond, zittend tussen rijstplanten, hoed, ketel en tobbe met doek.

Art Historical Context

**Rijst Plantend Meisje (Rice-Planting Girl)** *Kitagawa Utamaro, ca. 1800–1825, color woodcut, 189 × 125 mm* Kitagawa Utamaro (3–1806), a master of ukiyo-e—the "pictures of the floating world" from Japan's Edo period—captures everyday beauty in this intimate color woodcut. Renowned for his bijin-ga (images of beautiful women), Utamaro elevates ordinary figures with graceful lines and vibrant hues, printed via the collaborative woodblock process where artisans carved blocks for each color layer. This small-scale print, typical of mass-produced ukiyo-e affordable to urban merchants, reflects the genre's peak in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The scene depicts a young woman seated amid lush rice plants, pipe in mouth, wearing a wide hat for sun protection, with a kettle and cloth-filled tub nearby—hallmarks of rural labor during Japan's vital rice-planting season. Utamaro infuses her poised figure with sensuality and quiet dignity, blending genre realism with idealized femininity. Rice farming was the backbone of Edo society's economy, sustaining a population boom, and such prints romanticized peasant life for city dwellers. This work showcases Utamaro's innovative techniques, like subtle gradations (bokashi) for depth and metallic pigments for sheen, making it a cultural snapshot of labor, leisure, and beauty in pre-industrial Japan. A charming window into the "floating world"! (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...