Where can I see Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu)?

Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu) is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu)?

Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu) is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu)

Woman Leaving a Bath House (from the series Pictures from Otsu) is a print by the Romanticist artist Utagawa Kunisada. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

It’s a nod to an old folk tale about a magical horse that appears from a gourd.

A woman in a blue robe steps out of a wooden bathhouse, her hair still damp. The scene is quiet—just her, a lantern, and a small dog waiting.

Look at the tiny gourd in the corner. Inside, a horse’s head pokes out. It’s a nod to an old folk tale about a magical horse that appears from a gourd. People in the Edo period loved these playful, hidden stories in art.

If this makes you curious, check out more from japan, edo period (1615–1868).

Overview

Woman Leaving a Bath House is a print from the series Pictures from Otsu, depicting a serene scene of a woman exiting a bathhouse, accompanied by subtle narrative elements.

Subject & Meaning

The print shows a woman in a blue robe stepping out of a wooden bathhouse, her hair damp, with a lantern and a waiting dog nearby. A small gourd in the corner contains a horse's head, alluding to the Daoist immortal Chokaro's story, a popular motif in otsu-e folk paintings.

Technique & Style

The work features a quiet, intimate composition with selective detail, blending everyday life with a mythological reference through the gourd and horse element, characteristic of otsu-e's folk art tradition.

History & Provenance

Created during the Edo period (1615–1868), this print is part of the Pictures from Otsu series, reflecting the period's fondness for incorporating playful, hidden narratives in art.

Context

The inclusion of the horse-in-gourd motif caters to the Edo period audience's appreciation for references to folk tales and Daoist legends, adding a layer of cultural depth to the mundane scene.

Legacy

As part of the Pictures from Otsu series, Woman Leaving a Bath House contributes to the enduring interest in Edo period folk art and its unique blend of everyday life with mythological allusions.