Erotic Print
Medium
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Image: 10 in. × 15 1/8 in. (25.4 × 38.4 cm) Mat: 15 1/2 × 22 3/4 in. (39.4 × 57.8 cm)
Classification
Prints
Culture & Period
Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Anonymous Gift, 1952
Accession Number
JP3161
Tags
Art Historical Context
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures an intimate scene of male and female figures, reflecting the artist’s renowned skill in portraying the human form with grace sensitivity. Created during Japan’s Edo period (1615–1868), the work belongs to the ukiyo-e tradition of “pictures of the floating world,” a popular art form that celebrated everyday pleasures, beauty, and sensuality. Utamaro, celebrated for his elegant depictions of women, extended his mastery to erotic subjects known as shunga, which were widely appreciated across social classes. Printed with ink and color on paper, th...
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...