Who painted 富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter?

富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1790.

Where can I see 富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter?

富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is 富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter?

富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1790

富本豊ひな|The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter 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. Kitagawa Utamori’s woodblock print, dated 1790, depicts a woman identified as Lady Tomimoto Toyohina engaged in the act of reading a letter.

About this work

Overview

Kitagawa Utamori’s woodblock print, dated 1790, depicts a woman identified as Lady Tomimoto Toyohina engaged in the act of reading a letter. Executed in ink and color on paper, the work is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection and exemplifies the ukiyo-e portrait genre of the late eighteenth century.

Subject & Meaning

The figure is shown in a black kimono with vivid pink sleeves, holding a folded sheet in one hand and a folding fan in the other. Her composed expression and the careful grip on the paper convey a moment of private contemplation, suggesting the intimacy of personal correspondence within a domestic setting.

Technique & Style

Utamori employs a restrained palette of flat hues and crisp line work, allowing the subtle patterns on the garment—small floral motifs and geometric designs—to emerge without overwhelming the composition. The background remains unadorned, directing focus to the subject’s attire, accessories, and the delicate gesture of reading.

History & Provenance

The print was produced during the peak of Utamori’s career, a period noted for refined bijin-ga (beauty portraits). It entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it remains catalogued as a representative example of the artist’s mature portraiture.