Artwork

音曲比翼の番組小波力弥|Rikiya and Konami, from the series A Program with Music about Loving Couples (Ongyoku hiyoku no bangumi)

音曲比翼の番組小波力弥|Rikiya and Konami, from the series A Program with Music about Loving Couples (Ongyoku hiyoku no bangumi) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1798 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

Created in 1798 by the Edo‑period artist Kitagawa Utamaro, this woodblock print belongs to the series titled A Program with Music about Loving Couples. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The scene depicts a pair of elegantly dressed figures. A man in a tall black hat and long robe leans forward, holding a scroll, while a sword and a small book lie at his feet. Opposite him, a woman kneels in a vivid pink‑orange kimono patterned with flowers, suggesting a moment of intimate exchange between lovers.

Technique & Style

Utamaro employs clean, flowing lines and areas of flat color to convey the texture of the garments and the calm atmosphere. The smooth contours of the robes give the impression of gentle movement, characteristic of his refined genre scenes.

History & Provenance

The print was produced as part of a popular series that illustrated romantic pairings in the late eighteenth century. It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains on view as an example of Utamaro’s work in the ukiyo‑e tradition.