Artwork

Woman Holding a Fan (from the series Ten Aspects of the Physiognomy of Women)

Woman Holding a Fan (from the series Ten Aspects of the Physiognomy of Women), by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1793
Woman Holding a Fan (from the series Ten Aspects of the Physiognomy of Women), by Kitagawa Utamaro, 1793

Woman Holding a Fan (from the series Ten Aspects of the Physiognomy of Women) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1793 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Woman Holding a Fan is an ukiyo-e print from Kitagawa Utamaro's series Ten Aspects of the Physiognomy of Women, dating to around 1793. It is part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene woman dressed in a black kimono with green floral-patterned sleeves, her hair neatly styled under a dark hat. Her calm expression and gentle grasp of a fan convey a sense of quiet contemplation, emphasizing her inner demeanor as much as her outward appearance.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employed simple, expressive lines and a subdued color palette to focus attention on the subject. The plain background further accentuates her figure, highlighting the intricate details of her attire, such as the white flowers on her sleeves.

History & Provenance

Created circa 1793, the work is now housed at The Cleveland Museum of Art, as part of its ukiyo-e holdings.

Artist & collection

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: Cleveland Museum of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.