{"product_id":"lovers-before-a-mirror-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Lovers Before a Mirror - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eAn intimate shunga woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring a couple in a domestic setting, rendered with the artist's signature elegant line work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro belongs to the genre of shunga, or erotic art, which flourished during the Edo period in Japan. Utamaro is widely recognised for his mastery of the bijin-ga style, which focused on the depiction of beautiful women. In this composition, he applies his characteristic sensitivity to line and form to an intimate scene. The figures are rendered with the elegant, elongated proportions that define his mature work.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition centres on a couple engaged in a private moment. A mirror, positioned on a black stand, reflects the woman's hand, adding a layer of visual complexity to the domestic setting. The man is depicted in a loincloth, while the woman wears a patterned kimono, the fabric of which is detailed with a repeating geometric motif. The use of space is typical of the period, with the figures occupying a flattened plane against a neutral background. Calligraphic text appears in the upper portion of the print, providing a narrative or poetic accompaniment to the visual imagery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was a central figure in the development of the ukiyo-e tradition. His ability to capture subtle psychological states through posture and expression set his work apart from his contemporaries. This print demonstrates his technical skill in woodblock printing, particularly in the clean, fluid lines that define the figures and the balanced arrangement of the scene. The muted colour palette, typical of surviving impressions from this era, allows the focus to remain on the interaction between the two subjects. As an example of shunga, the work offers insight into the social and cultural attitudes toward intimacy in late eighteenth-century Japan, presented with the aesthetic refinement characteristic of the ukiyo-e school.\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\/women-near-a-river-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;\"\u003eWomen Near a River - Utagawa Kuniyoshi — Utagawa Kuniyoshi\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/nihonbashi-morning-scene-utagawa-hiroshige-1\" 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;\"\u003eNihonbashi: Morning Scene - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\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":58345122955599,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345125085519,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345125118287,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58345125151055,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58345125183823,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58345125216591,"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":58345125249359,"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":58345125282127,"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":58345125314895,"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":58345125347663,"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":58345125380431,"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":58345125413199,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Lovers-Before-a-Mirror_Poster_CompositorV1_1785389671155.jpg?v=1785392294","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/lovers-before-a-mirror-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}