Who painted 風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child?

風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1790.

Where can I see 風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child?

風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child?

風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1790

風俗美人時計子ノ刻妾|Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Kitagawa Utamaro’s woodblock print, dated 1790, presents a nocturnal domestic scene titled “Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child.

Kitagawa Utamaro’s woodblock print, dated 1790, presents a nocturnal domestic scene titled “Midnight: Mother and Sleepy Child.” Executed in ink and color on paper, the image captures a mother gently holding her drowsy infant within a dim interior, the composition framed by a decorative clock. The work belongs to Utamaro’s series of everyday genre prints that depict intimate moments of ordinary life.

Subject & Meaning

The central figures are a woman and her child, rendered in a tender pose that emphasizes maternal care. The child’s head rests against the mother’s shoulder, eyes closed, suggesting a moment of quiet repose. The inclusion of a clock underscores the late‑night hour, reinforcing the theme of private, unobserved time shared between parent and offspring.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employs the ukiyo‑e woodblock method, combining fine line work with subtle color washes to achieve a soft, atmospheric effect. Delicate outlines define the figures, while gradated shading creates a sense of depth and the warm, muted palette conveys the hush of a nighttime interior. The print’s compositional balance and restrained detail exemplify Utamaro’s skill in portraying nuanced human expression.

History & Provenance

Produced for the broader public rather than elite collectors, the print circulated among Edo‑period consumers of popular art. While specific ownership records are scarce, the piece has been documented in several museum collections and catalogues of Utamaro’s oeuvre, confirming its attribution and dating to the late 18th century.

Context

Created during the Kansei era, the work reflects the growing interest in everyday subjects within ukiyo‑e, moving beyond the traditional focus on courtesans and actors. Utamaro’s attention to domestic scenes aligns with contemporary literary trends that celebrated the private lives of ordinary people, offering viewers a glimpse into familial intimacy in Edo‑period Japan.