風流七小町 通ひ|Young MotHer Nursing Her Baby
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
H. 10 in. (25.4 cm); W. 14 11/16 in. (37.3 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
JP1671
Tags
Art Historical Context
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures an intimate moment of maternal care, showing a young mother gently nursing her infant. Created during Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868), the work exemplifies ukiyo-e, the vibrant “floating world” prints that brought scenes of everyday life to a wide audience. Utamaro, celebrated for his sensitive portrayals of women, often focused on the quiet beauty and emotional depth of ordinary domestic experiences rather than idealized or aristocratic subjects. Printed with ink and color on paper, the medium allowed for delicate lines and subtle gradations t...
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...