Artwork

Women by a Palanquin (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times)

Women by a Palanquin (from the series Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven Year Old Girls of Recent Times) is a print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1794 by the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamō, this woodblock print belongs to the series titled Chinese and Japanese Poems by Seven‑Year‑Old Girls of Recent Times. It is part of the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. The image captures a quiet domestic scene featuring two women in a palanquin, rendered in the delicate, refined style characteristic of Utamō’s later work.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents a seated woman holding the pole of a wooden palanquin, dressed in a loosely draped, patterned kimono and a wide‑brimmed hat, while a second woman kneels beside her, fan in hand, gazing downward. The subdued expressions—calm and slightly weary for the rider, attentive for the attendant—suggest a moment of private labor or travel, emphasizing everyday intimacy rather than overt narrative.

Technique & Style

Utamō employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock technique, combining bold, defining outlines with subtle gradations of color to achieve a smooth, polished surface.

Utamō employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock technique, combining bold, defining outlines with subtle gradations of color to achieve a smooth, polished surface. The palette is restrained, dominated by soft pinks, muted greens, and deep blacks, while delicate floral motifs adorn the sleeves. The interplay of line and shading creates a sense of volume and gentle atmosphere typical of late‑18th‑century prints.

History & Provenance

The print was produced in the late 1790s, a period when Utamō was exploring series that blended literary themes with genre scenes. It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition (date of acquisition not specified), where it remains on view as part of the museum’s Japanese prints holdings.