Two Ladies, Each with a Portion of a Lacquered Mirror
1790s
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 18 5/8 in. (47.3 cm); W. 7 5/8 in. (19.4 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
JP1673
Tags
About this artwork
Kitagawa Utamaro's elegant woodblock print captures two beauties in an intimate moment, each holding a portion of a divided lacquered mirror. Created during the 1790s, this work exemplifies Utamaro's mastery of bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), the genre that established him as one of ukiyo-e's greatest artists. The composition demonstrates Utamaro's sophisticated understanding of vertical format and his ability to create psychological connection between figures. The broken mirror motif ca...
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...