Artwork

The Eighth Month (from the series Fashionable Presentations of the Twelve Months)

The Eighth Month (from the series Fashionable Presentations of the Twelve Months) is a print by the Romanticist artist Torii Kiyonaga. It dates from 1779 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Overview

The Eighth Month is a 1779 print by Torii Kiyonaga, part of the series Fashionable Presentations of the Twelve Months, currently in The Cleveland Museum of Art.

Subject & Meaning

The print depicts three women walking together, each dressed in distinctive kimonos, conveying a sense of everyday elegance in Edo-period Japan, with their attire and accessories (fan, red box, feathered hat) suggesting seasonal and social nuances.

Technique & Style

Characterized by bold outlines and flat, vibrant colors, the work exemplifies Kiyonaga's style, balancing detailed, layered clothing patterns against a simplified, natural background of bamboo, pine, and a cloudy sky.

History & Provenance

Created in 1779, the print is now part of The Cleveland Museum of Art's collection, with its history of ownership prior to this not detailed in available information.

Context

Part of a series representing the twelve months, this print captures the aesthetics and leisure activities of late 18th-century Edo (Tokyo), reflecting the ukiyo-e genre's focus on contemporary life and beauty.