Artwork

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ink, 1791
三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period, by Kitagawa Utamaro, ink, 1791

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1791 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period is a woodblock print created by Kitagawa Utamaro around 1791. The print is held in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three women with tall, elegant hairstyles, each holding a small object or fan. Their faces are subtly turned towards the viewer, with a simple background featuring soft colors and faint patterns.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employed flat colors and clean lines to emphasize the women's expressions and hairstyles. The women's facial structures are nearly identical, with distinctiveness achieved through subtle variations in detail.

『雛形若菜初模様 玉や内 しら玉』|The Courtesan Shiratama of the Tamaya Brothel, from the series “A Pat-tern Book of the Year’s First Designs, Fresh as Spring Herbs” (“Hinagata wakana hatsu moyō”)
『雛形若菜初模様 玉や内 しら玉』|The Courtesan Shiratama of the Tamaya Brothel, from the series “A Pat-tern Book of the Year’s First Designs, Fresh as Spring Herbs” (“Hinagata wakana hatsu moyō”), Isoda Koryūsai

Artist & collection

Frequently asked questions

Who painted 三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period?

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1791.

Where can I see 三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period?

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period?

三婦艶|Three Beauties of the Kwansei Period is associated with Romanticism.