Open full image Pin

喜多川歌麿画蚊帳の中の文読み美人|Woman Reading a Letter under a Mosquito Net

Kitagawa Utamaro

1798

ink

paper

From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art

Romanticism Ukiyo-e 18th Century Portrait Correspondence Reading

Dominant colour

喜多川歌麿画蚊帳の中の文読み美人|Woman Reading a Letter under a Mosquito Net is a 1798 ink by Kitagawa Utamaro, a Romanticism work, depicting Correspondence, held at Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Who painted this?: Kitagawa Utamaro
When & what style?: 1798 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Metropolitan Museum of Art

About this work

This painting shows a woman sitting on the floor, reading a letter. She is wearing a kimono and has her hair styled in an updo. The woman is sitting under a mosquito net, which is a light blue color. The woman is holding the letter in her right hand, and her left hand is resting on her lap. She appears to be deeply engrossed in the letter, and her facial expression is one of concentration. The painting is a beautiful example of Japanese art from the late 18th century. The use of color and composition is striking, and the subject matter is relatable. To learn more about this style of art, explore the Romanticism movement.