{"product_id":"woman-of-the-yoshiwara-reading-scroll-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Woman of the Yoshiwara Reading Scroll - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting a woman from the Yoshiwara district reading a scroll.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKitagawa Utamaro remains a central figure in the development of the Ukiyo-e genre, particularly through his mastery of the bijin-ga style, which focuses on the depiction of beautiful women. This print captures a woman from the Yoshiwara district, the pleasure quarter of Edo, engaged in the quiet act of reading a scroll. Her posture is relaxed, yet the composition maintains a sense of poise typical of Utamaro's work during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe artist employs a refined line quality to define the contours of the figure and the folds of her kimono. The garment features a repeating pattern, which contrasts with the more fluid, organic forms of the chrysanthemum motifs at the base of the composition. Utamaro often utilised these subtle decorative elements to ground his subjects within a specific aesthetic environment. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted tones that allow the viewer to focus on the subject's expression and the delicate handling of the scroll.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was known for his ability to convey psychological depth through subtle shifts in facial features and posture. In this work, the subject's gaze is directed downward, creating an atmosphere of introspection. The inclusion of writing implements nearby suggests a moment of intellectual engagement, moving beyond mere decorative portraiture. The print reflects the cultural climate of late eighteenth-century Japan, where the lives of women in the Yoshiwara were often documented with both artistic precision and a degree of idealisation. This museum-grade print preserves the original woodblock textures and the specific colour balance intended by the artist, offering a clear view of the technical skill involved in the production of Edo-period prints.\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\/meguro-drum-bridge-and-sunset-hill-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;\"\u003eMeguro Drum Bridge and Sunset Hill - 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":58345761243471,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345763897679,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58345763930447,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58345763963215,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58345763995983,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58345764028751,"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":58345764061519,"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":58345764094287,"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":58345764127055,"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":58345764159823,"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":58345764192591,"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":58345764225359,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Woman-of-the-Yoshiwara-Reading-Scroll_Poster_CompositorV1_1785392189082.jpg?v=1785396554","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/products\/woman-of-the-yoshiwara-reading-scroll-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}