Who painted Woman Diver Combing her Hair?

Woman Diver Combing her Hair was painted by Utagawa Kunisada in 1825.

Where can I see Woman Diver Combing her Hair?

Woman Diver Combing her Hair is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Woman Diver Combing her Hair?

Woman Diver Combing her Hair is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Woman Diver Combing her Hair

Utagawa Kunisada , 1825

Woman Diver Combing her Hair is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kunisada. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

The scene is simple, yet it tells us something about the artist's focus on everyday life.

This painting shows a woman diver combing her hair.
She's sitting calmly, looking relaxed.
The scene is simple, yet it tells us something about the artist's focus on everyday life.

The diver's calm expression is interesting. It suggests the artist wanted to show a quiet moment.
This moment is not dramatic, but it's still engaging.

You can learn more about this style by looking at the work of artist: Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1865)

Overview

Woman Diver Combing Her Hair is a woodblock print executed by the prolific Edo‑period artist Utagawa Kunisada in 1825. The image is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection, where it is displayed as an example of early nineteenth‑century Japanese genre prints that foreground ordinary activities.

Subject & Meaning

The composition centers on a female ama, a traditional sea‑diver, seated on a rock and gently combing her hair. Her relaxed posture and unhurried expression convey a moment of quiet routine rather than heroic labor, reflecting the artist’s interest in the quotidian aspects of Japanese life.

Technique & Style

Kunisada employed the ukiyo‑e woodblock technique, using bold outlines and flat areas of color characteristic of his workshop. The print’s limited palette and simplified background focus attention on the figure’s gesture, while the delicate rendering of the hair and clothing demonstrates the period’s skill in depicting texture within a restrained visual framework.

History & Provenance

Created during the late Edo period, the print entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition in the twentieth century, joining a broader collection of Japanese prints that illustrate the commercial and artistic networks linking Japan and Western collectors during the Meiji era and beyond.