Two Young Women Wrapped in Yukata After a Bath
ca. 1796
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 15 in. (38.1 cm); W. 10 in. (25.4 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1914
Accession Number
JP142
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806) captured the fleeting beauty of everyday life through his masterful ukiyo-e woodblock prints. *Two Young Women Wrapped in Yukata After a Bath* (ca. 1796) exemplifies his bijin-ga style—intimate portraits of elegant women—showcasing two figures in loosely draped yukata, lightweight cotton robes worn post-bath for comfort in humid summers. This scene offers a tender, voyeuristic glimpse into private moments, blending sensuality with poetic grace amid the "floating world" of pleasure districts. Printed with vibran...
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...