Artwork

喜多川歌麿画絵兄弟娘道成寺見立猿廻し「絵兄弟」|A Woman Dressing a Girl for a the Kabuki Dance “Musume Dojōji,” with “Brother Picture” (E-kyōdai) of a Monkey Trainer

喜多川歌麿画絵兄弟娘道成寺見立猿廻し「絵兄弟」|A Woman Dressing a Girl for a the Kabuki Dance “Musume Dojōji,” with “Brother Picture” (E-kyōdai) of a Monkey Trainer is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Kitagawa Utamaro’s woodblock print, dated around 1796, belongs to the e‑kyōdai format—a double‑panel composition that juxtaposes two related scenes. The work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and depicts a domestic moment linked to a Kabuki performance titled “Musume Dōjōji.”

Subject & Meaning

The main panel shows a woman assisting a younger girl in dressing for the Kabuki dance, emphasizing the ritual preparation behind theatrical presentation. In the inset, a separate vignette presents a monkey trainer—referred to as the “brother picture”—highlighting the popular “e‑kyōdai” practice of pairing a primary narrative with a humorous or complementary side scene.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the print employs fine dotting and swirling line work to texture the elaborate kimono patterns. The contrast between the vivid red‑black leaf motif and the softer peach‑green dress demonstrates Utamaro’s skill in rendering fabric and movement within the constraints of woodblock printing.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth‑century Edo period, the piece reflects the era’s fascination with Kabuki culture and theatrical costuming. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains on view as an example of Utamaro’s genre scenes.

Context

The e‑kyōdai format was a popular publishing device in Edo, pairing a principal image with a secondary, often comic, illustration. By linking the dress‑up scene with a monkey trainer, the print offers viewers a glimpse of everyday life intersecting with popular entertainment, a hallmark of Utamaro’s work.