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四季の花|New Year's Games, from the printed book Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shiki no hana)

Kitagawa Utamaro

1801

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Ukiyo-e Early 19th Century Genre Scene Playing

Dominant colour

四季の花|New Year's Games, from the printed book Flowers of the Four Seasons (Shiki no hana) is a 1801 ink by Kitagawa Utamaro, a Romanticism work, depicting Playing, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Kitagawa Utamaro
When & what style?: 1801 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This print shows four women in a garden. Two on the left stand under a bamboo fence, dressed in bright robes with floral patterns. One holds a fan to her face, the other leans on a walking stick. On the right, one woman leans over a wooden railing, reaching for a ball, while another sits on the ledge, watching. Notice how the artist uses flat colors and simple outlines to keep the focus on the scene’s movement. The women’s poses feel lively, even though their faces stay calm. Want to see more? Check out cross-hatching to learn how artists create depth with lines.