忠臣蔵四段目|A Woman and a Man Arranging Flowers for the Tsukimi (Moon Festival)
1802
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
15 1/8 x 10 1/8 in. (38.4 x 25.7 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, Gift of Mrs. J. Watson Webb, 1930
Accession Number
JP2393
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
Art Historical Context
In the vibrant world of Edo-period Japan (1615–1868), Kitagawa Utamaro's 1802 woodblock printA Woman and a Mananging Flowers for the Tsuk (Moon Festival)* captures a tender moment of preparation for the cherished autumn Tsukimi celebration. Part of the popular *Chūshingura* series—depicting scenes from the iconic tale of the 47 loyal ronin—this intimate bijin-ga (beautiful women) print showcases Utamaro's mastery of ukiyo-e, the "pictures of the floating world" that celebrated everyday beauty amid theater, festivals, and urban life. The artist, renowned for his elegant portrayals of women, here includes a man, highlighting harmonious domestic collaboration. Crafted with ink and color on paper through the collaborative woodblock process—where carvers and printers brought the design to life—the print's delicate lines and subtle gradations of color evoke the serene anticipation of moon-viewing rituals. Tsukimi, honoring the harvest moon, traditionally featured pampas grass, persimmons, and flowers like chrysanthemums, symbolizing impermanence and seasonal joy. Utamaro's composition draws viewers into this fleeting elegance, blending cultural reverence for nature with the ronin saga's themes of duty. From the Metropolitan Museum of Art's H. O. Havemeyer Collection, this 15⅛ × 10⅛ in. gem reflects ukiyo-e's democratic appeal, making high art accessible to all. A window into Japan's poetic traditions, it reminds us how festivals wove community and artistry into the fabric of daily life.
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...