Artwork
三勝と半七|Sankatsu and Hanshichi

三勝と半七|Sankatsu and Hanshichi is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a work within the ukiyo-e tradition, the imagery focuses on domestic or intimate human interactions rather than religious or historical allegory.
Created in 1800 by Kitagawa Utamaro, this woodblock print presents a genre scene featuring a woman, a man, and an infant. The composition includes a semi-nude female figure adorned with a kanzashi hair ornament, interacting with the male subject and child. As a work within the ukiyo-e tradition, the imagery focuses on domestic or intimate human interactions rather than religious or historical allegory.
The specific symbolism of the figures is not detailed in the available records, but the inclusion of the infant and the semi-nude state of the woman suggests a narrative centered on private life or familial bonds typical of the artist's exploration of human relationships.
Technique & Style
Created in 1800, this work by Kitagawa Utamaro is executed as a woodblock print using ink and color applied to paper. The piece functions as a vertical composition within the ukiyo-e genre, measuring 62.2 cm in height and 14.9 cm in width. Stylistically, the image captures a genre scene featuring a man, a woman, and an infant or child.
The figures are rendered with specific attention to detail, including the depiction of a woman who is semi-nude and adorned with a kanzashi hair ornament. The handling of the medium allows for the distinct linear qualities and flat areas of color characteristic of Utamaro's printmaking practice during this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1800 as a woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, the piece titled 三勝と半七|Sankatsu and Hanshichi depicts a child, infant, kanzashi, man, semi nude, and woman. It is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work measures 62.2 cm in height and 14.9 cm in width.
Overview
Created around the turn of the nineteenth century, this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro belongs to the genre‑scene tradition. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image presents an intimate domestic moment rendered in a compact, decorative format intended for everyday viewers.
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