{"product_id":"hour-of-the-rat-12am-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Hour of the Rat (12am) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting two women in a quiet moment from the series The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print belongs to the series The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara, a collection by Kitagawa Utamaro that documents the daily routines of courtesans within the pleasure district of Edo. The Hour of the Rat, corresponding to midnight, captures a quiet moment of preparation or rest. Utamaro is known for his focus on the female form, often employing elongated proportions and expressive facial features to convey character and mood.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition features two figures. One woman stands, draped in a striped kimono with a soft pink sash, while the other kneels, holding up a dark purple garment. The interaction between the two figures is subtle, suggesting a private scene removed from the public gaze of the Yoshiwara district. The artist uses a refined line quality to define the folds of the fabric and the delicate hairstyles of the women. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted tones of purple, soft green, and pink against a neutral background, which allows the viewer to focus on the posture and gestures of the subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was a master of the bijin-ga genre, which translates to pictures of beautiful women. His work often moved beyond simple portraiture, providing a glimpse into the social dynamics and fashion of the period. The print demonstrates his ability to balance decorative elements, such as the patterns on the kimonos, with the naturalistic depiction of human movement. By choosing to depict the late-night hours, the artist invites the viewer to consider the private lives of those who inhabited the pleasure quarters, away from the festivities of the day. This print is a representative example of the technical precision achieved by Edo-period printmakers, where the collaboration between the artist, carver, and printer resulted in a sophisticated final product.\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\/a-boat-upon-the-waters-utagawa-kuniyoshi\" 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;\"\u003eA Boat upon the Waters - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\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":58935931371855,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58936272027983,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58936272060751,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58936272093519,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58936272126287,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58936272159055,"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":58936272191823,"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":58936272224591,"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":58936272257359,"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":58936272290127,"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":58936272322895,"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":58936272355663,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Hour-of-the-Rat-12am-_Poster_CompositorV1_1790710282199.jpg?v=1790711131","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/hour-of-the-rat-12am-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}