{"product_id":"the-fourth-month-shigatsu-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"The Fourth Month (Shigatsu) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA delicate woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting a domestic scene for the fourth month, complete with traditional kyoka poetry.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts a domestic scene associated with the fourth month of the lunar calendar. The composition features a woman holding a child, while a man performs a playful gesture nearby. Between them sits a small, ornate shrine or decorative object, likely related to the seasonal festivities of the period. The inclusion of kyoka poems, a form of lighthearted or satirical verse, integrates literary culture with visual art, a common practice in Edo-period print culture.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro is recognised for his ability to capture human emotion and social interaction with economy of line. His figures possess a distinct grace, and the use of negative space allows the viewer to focus on the interaction between the subjects. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones that complement the paper texture rather than overwhelming the composition. The woman wears a kimono with a geometric pattern, which contrasts with the more fluid, informal attire of the man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a master of the Ukiyo-e tradition, Utamaro often focused on the lives of ordinary people, moving away from the strictly idealised portraits of courtesans that dominated much of the genre. This print offers a glimpse into the private sphere, where the domestic and the poetic intersect. The work is a fine example of the collaborative nature of print production in eighteenth-century Japan, where artists, poets, and publishers worked in concert to produce works for a growing urban audience. The print reflects the cultural interests of the time, where seasonal observations were frequently celebrated through both visual and written media.\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\/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=\"\/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":58929558225231,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929670324559,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58929670357327,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58929670390095,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58929670422863,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58929670455631,"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":58929670488399,"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":58929670521167,"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":58929670553935,"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":58929670586703,"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":58929670619471,"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":58929670652239,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Fourth-Month-Shigatsu-_Poster_CompositorV1_1790701954154.jpg?v=1790703453","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/the-fourth-month-shigatsu-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}