Artwork

Woman Measuring a Man's Gown (from the series Twelve Occupations of Women)

Woman Measuring a Man's Gown (from the series Twelve Occupations of Women) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. Created around 1794 by the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamō, this woodblock print belongs to his series Twelve Occupations of Women.

Accession no.: 1921.344
Credit line: Gift from J. H. Wade

About this work

Overview

Created around 1794 by the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamō, this woodblock print belongs to his series Twelve Occupations of Women. It depicts a domestic scene in which one woman assists another in measuring a garment, illustrating a everyday task of the period. The work is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The image presents two women dressed in contemporary kimono, engaged in the practical activity of fitting a man’s robe. One holds a measuring tool while the other adjusts the fabric, highlighting the collaborative labor involved in clothing production and the social roles of women within the textile trade of late‑eighteenth‑century Japan.

Technique & Style

Executed as a multicolored woodblock, the composition relies on clean, unembellished lines and broad, flat areas of pigment. The artist emphasizes the texture of the cloth and the posture of the figures, while a plain, unadorned background eliminates visual distraction, directing the viewer’s focus to the interaction and the materiality of the garments.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during Utamō’s mature phase, when he explored series portraying women’s occupations. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition, where it remains on view as an example of ukiyo‑e’s documentary interest in everyday life and the specialized skills of female artisans.