{"product_id":"preparing-a-meal-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Preparing a Meal - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting two women engaged in domestic food preparation, showcasing the elegance of Edo period genre scenes.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts two women engaged in the domestic task of food preparation. The composition focuses on the interaction between the figures, a hallmark of Utamaro's work during the mid-1790s. The standing woman holds a cloth, while the seated woman grates daikon radish on a small board. The artist employs his characteristic 'okubi-e' (large-head) influence, even within a genre scene, by focusing on the expressive facial features and the elegant posture of the subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe print demonstrates the technical precision of the Edo period publishing houses. The lines are fine and controlled, defining the folds of the kimonos and the intricate hairstyles. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted greens, and subtle reds to create a sense of calm. The background remains largely empty, which directs the viewer's attention to the activity at the centre of the frame. The use of negative space is a deliberate choice, common in Ukiyo-e, to balance the visual weight of the figures.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was a master of the 'bijin-ga' genre, which focused on the depiction of beautiful women. In this work, he elevates a mundane household chore into a subject of artistic study. The attention to detail in the patterns of the clothing and the specific tools used for cooking provides a glimpse into the daily life of the period. The print is an example of the collaborative process between the artist, the woodcarver, and the printer, who worked together to achieve the subtle gradations and clean lines seen here. This piece remains a clear example of the aesthetic values prevalent in late 18th-century Japanese printmaking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"margin-top:2rem;padding-top:1.5rem;border-top:1px solid #e5e5e5;\"\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"font-size:0.85rem;color:#888;font-weight:600;margin:0 0 0.75rem;text-transform:uppercase;letter-spacing:0.05em;\"\u003eYou might also like\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv style=\"display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:0.5rem;\"\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/the-famous-practical-jokers-yajirobei-at-a-wayside-restaurant-utagawa-hiroshige\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eThe Famous Practical Jokers: Yajirobei at a Wayside Restaurant - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/de\/products\/view-of-benten-shrine-on-nakanoshima-island-in-shinobazu-pond-ueno-park-utagawa-hiroshige-iii\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#f8f9fa;border:1px solid #e5e5e5;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#2a555a;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eView of Benten Shrine on Nakanoshima Island in Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park - Utagawa Hiroshige III — Utagawa Hiroshige III\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Kitagawa Utamaro","offers":[{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933289550159,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933593801039,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933593833807,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933593866575,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933593899343,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933593932111,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933593964879,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933593997647,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933594030415,"sku":null,"price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933594063183,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933594095951,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933594128719,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Preparing-a-Meal_Poster_CompositorV1_1790707761438.jpg?v=1790708373","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/de\/products\/preparing-a-meal-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}