Artwork

喜多川歌麿画「婦女人相十品」ポペンを吹く娘|Young Woman Blowing a Popen (glass noisemaker), from the series “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy” (Fujo ninsō juppen)

喜多川歌麿画「婦女人相十品」ポペンを吹く娘|Young Woman Blowing a Popen (glass noisemaker), from the series “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy” (Fujo ninsō juppen) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Kitagawa Utamaro. It dates from 1792 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Created around 1792, this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamara belongs to his series “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy.

About this work

Overview

Created around 1792, this woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamara belongs to his series “Ten Classes of Women’s Physiognomy.” It portrays a young woman engaged in a fleeting, private act, holding a glass poppen—a small whistle toy—while her kimono slips off one shoulder, exposing a red undergarment.

Subject & Meaning

The image captures a moment of informal play, emphasizing the everyday aspects of feminine life beyond idealized beauty. By focusing on a modest toy and a casual pose, Utamara highlights a particular type of woman within the broader social spectrum explored in the series.

Technique & Style

Executed in ink and color on paper, the print employs clean, flowing lines to define the figure’s posture and hair. A restrained palette of deep red, pale flesh tones, and black hair contrasts with the delicate shading, giving the scene a vivid yet understated presence.

History & Provenance

Part of a ten‑image set that surveyed varied female archetypes, the print was produced in Edo’s prolific ukiyo‑e publishing environment. Original impressions circulated among the city’s literate public; later, the series entered museum collections and scholarly catalogues as representative of Utamara’s nuanced portraiture.

Context

During the late 18th century, ukiyo‑e artists increasingly depicted ordinary moments and diverse social roles. Utamara’s focus on physiognomy reflects contemporary interests in categorizing personality traits through appearance, aligning the work with both artistic and cultural discourses of the period.