Artwork

Gompachi Komurasaki no Toko no Tsuki|逢身八契権八小紫の床の通気|Shared Feelings in the Bedchamber of Komurasaki and Gompachi

Gompachi Komurasaki no Toko no Tsuki|逢身八契権八小紫の床の通気|Shared Feelings in the Bedchamber of Komurasaki and Gompachi is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Kitagawa Utamaru’s woodblock print, titled *Gompachi Komurasaki no Toko no Tsuki* (also known as *Shared Feelings in the Bedchamber of Komurasaki and Gompachi*), dates to around 1795. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work belongs to the genre‑scene tradition of Edo‑period ukiyo‑e. It is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents an intimate interior where two women occupy a modestly furnished room. One figure reclines on a low cushion, eyes closed and head tilted back, suggesting a moment of repose. The other, standing in dark robes with a patterned sleeve, rests a hand on the seated woman’s shoulder, conveying a quiet, shared sentiment between the pair.

Technique & Style

Utamaro renders the standing woman’s sleeve with fine, parallel lines that create a subtle cross‑hatching effect, giving the fabric a tactile sense of texture. The overall palette combines muted ink washes with selective color accents, while the background includes a small circular wall painting of a bridge and trees, adding depth without detracting from the figures.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late eighteenth century, a period when ukiyo‑e artists frequently depicted scenes from the pleasure quarters and domestic life. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it has been catalogued as an example of Utamaro’s nuanced portraiture of women.

Context

Created during the Kansei era, the work reflects the growing interest in private, emotional moments among the urban middle class of Edo. Utamō’s focus on nuanced facial expressions and delicate gestures aligns with contemporary literary themes that explored personal relationships and the subtleties of everyday intimacy.