Who painted 婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom?

婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1796.

Where can I see 婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom?

婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom?

婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1796

婦人手業操鏡|A Woman Weaving, Seated at a Hand Loom 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

Created around 1796, this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro portrays a woman seated at a hand‑loom. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image captures a quiet domestic scene without decorative background, emphasizing the activity of weaving as the central visual element.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a female figure bent over a wooden loom, her face partially obscured while her hands manipulate the threads. By directing attention to the tactile gesture rather than facial expression, the work highlights the rhythm and concentration inherent in everyday labor.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employed the traditional ukiyo‑e woodblock process, layering ink and subtle pigments to render the soft illumination on the loom and the delicate curvature of the threads. The restrained palette and fine line work convey a sense of stillness characteristic of his later genre scenes.

Context

During the late eighteenth century, ukiyo‑e artists increasingly depicted ordinary activities of the urban populace. Utamaro, known for his portraits of women, extended this interest to scenes of work, offering a glimpse into the domestic sphere of Edo‑period Japan.