Komurasaki of the Miuraya and Shirai Gompachi (Miuraya Komurasaki, Shirai Gompachi)

Kitagawa Utamaro

Created:

Movement:

c. 1800

None

key Notes:

Bijin-ga (beautiful women) Ukiyo-e woodblock print

Dimensions:

Unknown

medium:

Color woodblock print; hashira-e

Difficulty:

Expert

New game

story of the work:

The painting "Komurasaki of the Miuraya and Shirai Gompachi" by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts the tragic love story of the famed courtesan Komurasaki and the young samurai Shirai Gompachi, characters from Japanese folklore and kabuki theatre. Utamaro, renowned for his bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women), captures the elegance and emotional depth of these figures, reflecting the Edo period's fascination with romantic and dramatic narratives.

Description of the work:

The painting "Komurasaki of the Miuraya and Shirai Gompachi" by Kitagawa Utamaro is a color woodblock print executed in the hashira-e format, characterized by its elongated vertical composition. It depicts the courtesan Komurasaki and the samurai Shirai Gompachi, rendered with Utamaro's signature delicate line work and subtle color palette, emphasizing the elegance and grace of the figures within the constraints of the narrow format.

Artwork Photograph Source:

Art Institute of Chicago

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