Artwork

Woman Reading a Letter (from the series Seven Episodes in the Life of Komachi in the Floating World)

Woman Reading a Letter (from the series Seven Episodes in the Life of Komachi in the Floating World) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1806 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Woman Reading a Letter is a print by Kitagawa Utamaro, created in 1806, and is part of the collection at The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts a serene scene of a woman engrossed in reading a letter, likely referencing the life of the poet Ono no Komachi, as part of a series titled Seven Episodes in the Life of Komachi in the Floating World.

Technique & Style

The composition is characterized by the use of bright colors and simple shapes, emphasizing the tranquility of the moment. The woman is dressed in a long pink robe with green and white patterns and wears a black hat adorned with yellow ribbons.