Shells under Water
1790
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
9 1/8 x 14 7/8 in. (23.2 x 37.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1915
Accession Number
JP1059
Tags
Art Historical Context
**Shells under Water** by Kitagawa Utam, created in 1790, is a captivating woodblock print from Japan's Edo period (16151868). Utamaro, a master the ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world"), is renowned for his elegant depictions of courtesans and nature. This intimate scene (9 1/8 x 14 7/8 in.) transports viewers beneath the waves, where shells gleam with subtle iridescence, evoking the transient beauty cherished in Japanese aesthetics. The print's medium—ink and color on paper—highlights the ingenuity of woodblock techniques. Artisans carved multiple blocks for layering vibrant hues and d...
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...