Kiyomizu Komachi, from the series Futabagusa nana Komachi

1790s

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 231

In this print a woman plays mekakushi, blindman’s buff, with two children. She observes the pair through a screen equipped with a sliding paper door. It frames her image to create a picture within a picture that resembles the Japanese portraits of beautiful women known as bijin-e. Admired women were sometimes called Komachi, as in the title, after an ancient poet celebrated for both her literary prowess and her physical beauty. The screen also accentuates the separation between the children, absorbed in the excitement of the game itself, and the woman observing them

Artwork Details

喜多川歌麿画「清水小町」
Title: Kiyomizu Komachi, from the series Futabagusa nana Komachi
Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1790s
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions: H. 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm); W. 9 1/2 in. (24.1 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914
Object Number: JP986
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Kitagawa Utamaro

In the same medium

A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.

“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

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.