Who painted 当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child?

当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1790.

Where can I see 当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child?

当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child?

当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

当世風俗通女房風|Mother and Child

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1790

当世風俗通女房風|Mother and 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, titled “Mother and Child,” dates from around 1790. Executed with ink and color on paper, the image presents a domestic scene in which a woman in a pink robe holds an infant on her lap, the child’s tiny hands reaching outward.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures an intimate moment between mother and child, emphasizing the tenderness of maternal care. The baby’s relaxed posture and the mother’s gentle hold convey a sense of everyday affection rather than formal or mythological symbolism.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employs fine, flowing lines to delineate the folds of the robe and the roundness of the infant’s cheeks. The subtle coloration and delicate brushwork reflect the ukiyo‑e tradition’s focus on nuanced expression within a relatively simple, flat pictorial space.

History & Provenance

Printed as a commercial product for the urban populace of Edo, the work was intended for affordable acquisition and casual display. Its production as a woodblock print meant it could be reproduced in modest editions, reaching a broad audience beyond elite patrons.

Context

The image belongs to a series of genre prints that documented contemporary life, illustrating domestic scenes alongside more public subjects such as courtesans and actors. By portraying a private family moment, Utamaro expands the range of subjects considered suitable for ukiyo‑e.

Legacy

“Mother and Child” exemplifies Utamaro’s skill in rendering emotional nuance, influencing later Japanese artists who explored everyday themes. The print continues to be cited as an early example of intimate domestic representation within the ukiyo‑e canon.