Artwork

三囲神社の御開帳|Display of Treasures at Mimeguri Shrine (Mimeguri jinja no onkaichō)

三囲神社の御開帳|Display of Treasures at Mimeguri Shrine (Mimeguri jinja no onkaichō) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1799 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1799 by the ukiyo-e master Kitagawa Utamara, this three‑panel woodblock print depicts a procession of women moving along a tree‑lined path. The work, now part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, belongs to the genre‑scene tradition that recorded everyday activities in Edo‑period Japan.

Subject & Meaning

The panels show a group of women dressed in long kimono and wide‑brimmed hats, some holding fans or parasols while others accompany infants or small children. Their composed yet purposeful expressions suggest a communal outing, likely linked to a religious or ceremonial event at Mimeguri Shrine, as indicated by the title’s reference to a shrine’s treasure display.

Technique & Style

Executed as a triptych, the image combines ink outlines with subtle color washes of brown, black and pale blue. Utamaro’s characteristic attention to facial detail is evident in the nuanced expressions of each figure, while the soft palette and delicate line work convey a tranquil atmosphere typical of his later genre prints.

History & Provenance

Printed in Edo (modern Tokyo) during the height of Utamaro’s career, the work entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through a 20th‑century acquisition of Japanese prints. Its preservation in paper format allows contemporary viewers to study both the artistic techniques of the period and the social customs depicted.