Who painted Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.)?

Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.) was painted by Kitagawa Utamaro in 1794.

Where can I see Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.)?

Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.) is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.)?

Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.)

Kitagawa Utamaro , 1794

Ushi no Koku|青楼十二時続丑の刻|The Hour of the Ox (1 A.M.–3 A.M.) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The woodblock print titled Ushi no Koku (The Hour of the Ox, 1 a.

About this work

Overview

The woodblock print titled Ushi no Koku (The Hour of the Ox, 1 a.m.–3 a.m.) was produced by Kitagawa Utamō around 1794. Executed in ink and color on paper, the image belongs to the genre‑scene tradition of late‑eighteenth‑century Japan and is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The presence of a floral‑patterned screen behind her and the nocturnal time reference suggest an intimate, private moment during the early hours of the night.

The composition centers on a solitary woman dressed in a dark robe with vivid orange sleeves and a matching underskirt. She stands in profile, a fan held in one hand while the other rests on her hip, her hair neatly arranged beneath a black hat. The presence of a floral‑patterned screen behind her and the nocturnal time reference suggest an intimate, private moment during the early hours of the night.

Technique & Style

Utamō employs delicate line work and a restrained palette, allowing the bright orange accents to stand out against the muted background. The print’s soft coloration and careful delineation of fabric folds convey a sense of quiet stillness, while the flat decorative screen exemplifies the ukiyo‑e emphasis on pattern and surface design.

History & Provenance

Created in the Edo period, the print entered the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection through acquisition in the twentieth century, where it is catalogued under the museum’s Japanese prints department. Its attribution to Utamō is based on stylistic analysis consistent with his late career output.

Context

Ushi no Koku belongs to a series depicting the twelve hours of the night, a popular motif in ukiyo‑e that explored the lives of courtesans and pleasure‑district figures after dark. The work reflects contemporary interest in fleeting, everyday scenes and the subtle emotional states of women within the licensed quarters of Edo.