"Man and Woman Fishing Under a Bridge" - Kitagawa Utamaro I
Page Size: 20 x 7 in.
Frame Size: 28.5 x 12.5 in.
Artist: 喜多川歌麿 Kitagawa Utamaro
Title: "橋下男女魚釣Man and Woman Fishing Under a Bridge" Original Production Year: (1789-1801)
Original Publisher: 岩長Iwanaga
Reprint: 三原藏板 Mihara Collection
In this exceptional "Hashira-e", or "pillar format", woodblock print demonstrates Utamaro's famous ability to elevate a leisure activity into a scene of sophisticated elegance. The composition uses a massive, architectural bridge post a to anchor the frame, under which a man and woman engage in a playful moment of fishing from a boat. Utamaro’s genius for pattern and line is evident in the striking contrast between the man’s checkered yukata and the woman’s flowing blue kimono. Most remarkable is the artist's treatment of the water; the shimmering reflections and the translucent quality of the ripples beneath the boat showcase the technical mastery of Edo-period woodcut printing. This work is a premier example of the Ukiyo-e philosophy, capturing the "floating world" in its most serene and stylish form.
This print bears the red seal of the Mihara Sigekichi collection, indicating that it is likely a restrike made in the 1930s.
The woodcut on paper print is ready to hang in a stately frame with bamboo motif, linen liner, and black finish. Glass protects the art.
