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“Hour of the Rat: Mistress,” from the series Women’s Daily Customs (Fuzoku bijin tokei)

1790
Not on view
Kitagawa Utamaro, one of the most prolific artists of the bijin genre that portrays beautiful women, made many images of mothers and children. Here, to illustrate the hour of midnight, Utamaro chose a mother who sleepily emerges from a mosquito net to attend to her child, who rubs the sleep from his eyes. The personal, everyday nature of the subject exemplifies the new interest in the individual that emerged during the mid- to late Edo period.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • 喜多川歌麿画 「風俗美人時計　
子ノ刻　妾」
  • Title: “Hour of the Rat: Mistress,” from the series Women’s Daily Customs (Fuzoku bijin tokei)
  • Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 1790
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
  • Dimensions: 14 3/8 x 9 5/8 in. (36.5 x 24.4cm)
  • Classification: Prints
  • Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1922
  • Object Number: JP1278
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

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“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri) , Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan

“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

Kitagawa Utamaro
1798
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
1790
Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
1806–20
In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
In the Kitchen
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1794–95
Girl Fishers and Bathers, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
Girl Fishers and Bathers
Kitagawa Utamaro
1791

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