Drawing Lots for Prizes (Ho biki)

Kitagawa Utamaro

Created:

Movement:

c. 1798

None

key Notes:

Edo-period Ukiyo-e, Intimate Domestic Scene

Dimensions:

Right sheet: 37.8 × 24.5 cm (14 15/16 × 9 11/16 in.); Center sheet: 37.8 × 25 cm (14 15/16 × 9 7/8 in.); Left sheet: 37.8 × 26.2 cm (14 15/16 × 10 3/8 in.)

medium:

Color woodblock prints; oban triptych

Difficulty:

Expert

New game

story of the work:

"Drawing Lots for Prizes (Ho biki)" by Kitagawa Utamaro is an ukiyo-e woodblock print that depicts a scene of women engaged in the traditional Japanese practice of drawing lots, a common theme in Edo-period art reflecting social customs and entertainment. Utamaro, renowned for his bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), captures the elegance and poise of the figures, emphasizing the cultural significance of leisure activities in late 18th-century Japan.

Description of the work:

"Drawing Lots for Prizes (Ho biki)" by Kitagawa Utamaro is a color woodblock print presented as an oban triptych, depicting a lively scene of women engaged in the traditional Japanese activity of drawing lots. The composition is characterized by Utamaro's delicate line work and vibrant use of color, capturing the intricate patterns of the women's kimonos and the dynamic interaction among the figures.

Artwork Photograph Source:

Art Institute of Chicago

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