喜多川歌麿画 『美人花合』 「兵庫屋内 花妻図」|“The Courtesan Hanazuma Reading a Letter,” from the series Beauties Compared to Flowers (Bijin hana awase)
1794
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
About the artist
1794
ink
paper
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
喜多川歌麿画 『美人花合』 「兵庫屋内 花妻図」|“The Courtesan Hanazuma Reading a Letter,” from the series Beauties Compared to Flowers (Bijin hana awase) is a 1794 ink by Kitagawa Utamaro, a Romanticism work, depicting Reading, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This print shows a woman with a large, dark hairdo tied back with a white ribbon. She’s holding a scroll with writing on it, and her sleeve is decorated with a subtle pattern. Above her head is a small circle with flowers and leaves. The woman looks like she’s reading something quietly, maybe a letter or poem. The artist used simple lines and soft colors to show her calm expression. Look up Kitagawa Utamaro next to see more of his work.
