Who painted Making Love?

Making Love was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1780.

Where can I see Making Love?

Making Love is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Making Love?

Making Love is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Making Love

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1780

Making Love is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1780 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1780 by the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamaro, this woodblock print is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It depicts an intimate interior scene rendered in a restrained palette of warm browns and muted reds, characteristic of Utamaro’s later work.

Subject & Meaning

The composition shows two figures in a dimly lit room. One figure reclines, dressed in a red‑and‑brown kimono with a checkered sleeve, holding a fan in the opposite hand. The other rests a hand on their cheek, eyes downcast, suggesting fatigue or contemplation. The subdued setting and the quiet pose convey a moment of private repose rather than overt narrative.

Technique & Style

Executed as a multicolored woodblock print, the image employs delicate line work for the figures’ hair and facial features, while flat areas of color define the garments and background. Utamaro’s use of soft, warm tones and minimal decorative elements creates a sense of depth without elaborate scenery, reflecting his mature aesthetic of refined simplicity.

History & Provenance

The print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the 20th century, joining a broader assemblage of Japanese ukiyo‑e works. Its attribution to Utamaro is supported by stylistic analysis and the artist’s known production of similar intimate genre scenes during the 1780s.