{"product_id":"ginjuros-wife-oyumi-from-the-play-whirlpools-of-awa-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Ginjuro's Wife Oyumi from the Play Whirlpools of Awa - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring the character Oyumi in the artist's signature large-head portrait style.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts the character Oyumi, the wife of Ginjuro, from the theatrical production Whirlpools of Awa (Awa no naruto). It belongs to the series Bamboo Nodes in Puppet Theater Designs (Ayatsuri moyo take no hitofushi), a collection that draws inspiration from the aesthetic conventions of the Bunraku puppet theatre. Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e genre, focuses here on the expressive potential of the female face, employing his signature okubi-e (large-head picture) style to bring the subject into close proximity with the viewer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features two figures, with the primary subject in the foreground and a secondary figure positioned slightly behind. The artist uses clean, precise lines to define the facial features, hair, and the elaborate patterns of the kimono. The colour palette is restrained, relying on warm ochre tones for the background, which contrast with the deep blacks of the hair and the patterned red garments. The inclusion of floral motifs and geometric designs on the clothing adds a layer of visual texture, typical of the period's interest in textile patterns.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro's approach to portraiture in this series demonstrates his ability to capture the specific mood and character of theatrical roles. By stripping away extraneous background detail, he directs attention to the subtle expressions and the stylised elegance of the figures. The print reflects the cultural climate of Edo-period Japan, where the theatre served as a primary source of fashion and popular entertainment. This work remains a representative example of Utamaro's technical skill in woodblock printing, particularly in his handling of line weight and the balanced arrangement of figures within the vertical format of the oban sheet.\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=\"\/products\/ryogoku-bridge-and-the-great-riverbank-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;\"\u003eRyōgoku Bridge and the Great Riverbank - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/thirty-six-views-of-yedo-saruwakacho-utagawa-hiroshige-ii\" 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;\"\u003eThirty-six Views of Yedo, Saruwakacho - Utagawa Hiroshige II — Utagawa Hiroshige II\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":58984731181391,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58984736031055,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58984736063823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58984736096591,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58984736129359,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58984736162127,"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":58984736194895,"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":58984736227663,"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":58984736260431,"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":58984736293199,"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":58984736325967,"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":58984736358735,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Ginjuro-s-Wife-Oyumi-from-the-Play-Whirlpools-of-Awa_Poster_CompositorV1_1790931044044.jpg?v=1790931321","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/ginjuros-wife-oyumi-from-the-play-whirlpools-of-awa-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}