A Test of Skill - the Headwaters of Amorousness (Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami): Osan and Mohei
n.d.
Medium
Color woodblock print; oban
Dimensions
39.1 × 25.5 cm (15 7/16 × 10 in.)
Classification
woodblock print
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
22934
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
**A Test of Skill - thewaters of AmorousnessJitsu kurabe iro no minakami): Osan and Mohei** Kitagawa Utamaro (3–1806), one of Japan's greatest ukiyo-e masters, created this captivating color woodblock print during the Edo period. Specializing in bijin-ga—elegant portrayals of women—Utamaro infused his works with a delicate realism and emotional depth. This oban-format print (39.1 × 25.5 cm), a standard large size for such art, depicts the poignant encounter between Osan, a devoted wife, and Mohei, a masseur, from a popular tale of forbidden love and jealousy. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Arts of Asia department, it exemplifies the "floating world" (ukiyo) genre, celebrating fleeting pleasures amid societal constraints. The title references a competitive series, *Jitsu kurabe iro no minakami*, where artists vied to depict key scenes from dramatic stories, showcasing their skill in capturing human emotion. Here, Utamaro masterfully renders Osan and Mohei's intimate tension through subtle gestures and expressive faces, drawing from kabuki theater and puppet plays that captivated Edo audiences. Woodblock printing's genius lies in its layered technique: separate blocks for each color and line, carved by artisans and printed with water-based pigments for vibrant, nuanced hues. This print not only highlights Utamaro's innovative shading (*fuki-bokashi*) for depth but also reflects ukiyo-e's cultural role in democratizing art—affordable yet exquisite—for everyday viewers in 18th-19th century Japan.
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...