Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge

ca. 1800

Not on view

In this ambitious group of prints, beautiful women appear in two stage areas as both performers and audience. At the top, women and children pause from their stroll to take in the view of boating parties on the river.

The six panels of this hexaptych (with JP1685) were meant to be viewed singly or as a set. The individual compositions are masterfully united by the gazes that traverse the borders of the prints. Seen separately, each panel depicts a group of fashionably dressed spectators. When the panels are seen together, the observers become the observed.

Artwork Details

Title: Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge
Artist: Kitagawa Utamaro (Japanese, ca. 1754–1806)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: ca. 1800
Culture: Japan
Medium: Three sheets of a hexaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 15 x 29 3/4in. (38.1 x 75.6cm)
Framed: 38 1/8 × 38 1/8 in. (96.8 × 96.8 cm) shares frame with JP1685
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: H. O. Havemeyer Collection, Bequest of Mrs. H. O. Havemeyer, 1929
Object Number: JP1686
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Kitagawa Utamaro

In the same medium

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Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Three sheets of a hexaptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — Enjoying the Cool Evening Breeze on and under the Bridge
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1800

“Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)

, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Page from a woodblock printed book; ink and color on paper, Japan — “Preparing Food for the Warbler,” from the album Men’s Stamping Dance (Otoko dōka, uguisu no esa suri)
Kitagawa Utamaro
1798

The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — The Lady Tomimoto Toyohina Reading a Letter
Kitagawa Utamaro
1790

Women Preparing Sashimi, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan — Women Preparing Sashimi
Kitagawa Utamaro
1806–20

In the Kitchen, Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese, Right-hand sheet of a diptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan — In the Kitchen
Kitagawa Utamaro
ca. 1794–95

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