Who painted Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu?

Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu was painted by Torii Kiyonaga in 1782.

Where can I see Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu?

Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu?

Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu

Torii Kiyonaga , 1782

Sako no Suzumi|Cooling Off at Nakazu is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Torii Kiyonaga. It dates from 1782 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1782 by the Edo‑period printmaker Torii Kiyonaga, this work is the left panel of a two‑sheet diptych executed in woodblock technique. Ink and color are applied to paper, producing a scene that now belongs to the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The composition depicts a domestic interior where four women and a man are gathered. The figures wear traditional kimono; the women’s garments feature elaborate patterns while the man’s attire is comparatively plain. One woman holds a fan, another adjusts her clothing, and the man gazes at one of the women, suggesting a moment of quiet interaction.

Technique & Style

Kiyonaga employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, using multiple carved blocks to layer ink and pigments. The print’s delicate line work and subtle color washes convey the texture of fabrics and the soft illumination of the room, characteristic of the artist’s refined, graceful style.

History & Provenance

Since its production in the late eighteenth century, the left-hand sheet of the diptych has been preserved within the holdings of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed as part of the museum’s Japanese prints collection.