{"product_id":"drawing-lots-for-prizes-ho-biki-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Drawing Lots for Prizes (Ho biki) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e triptych by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting women engaged in a traditional lottery game, showcasing the artist's mastery of figure and textile detail.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts a group of women engaged in a game of chance known as ho biki. The scene is composed as a triptych, a common format for Ukiyo-e artists to expand their narrative space. Utamaro, a master of the bijin-ga genre, focuses on the elegant postures and varied expressions of the women as they participate in the lottery. The figures are dressed in elaborate kimonos, each featuring distinct patterns that demonstrate the artist's attention to textile detail and contemporary fashion of the Edo period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition is structured around the architectural elements of the room, with curved doorways and sliding screens creating a sense of depth. The women are arranged in various states of activity: some are crouched on the floor pulling strings to reveal their prizes, while others stand or observe the proceedings. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted reds, and blacks to maintain a balanced visual harmony. The print captures a moment of social leisure, providing a glimpse into the domestic lives of women in the pleasure quarters of Edo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro is recognised for his ability to capture the psychological nuance of his subjects. In this work, the interaction between the figures is subtle, conveyed through their gazes and the positioning of their hands. The use of line is precise, defining the folds of the fabric and the delicate features of the faces. As a piece of Ukiyo-e, this print reflects the artistic conventions of the late eighteenth century, where the focus shifted towards the depiction of individual personality and social interaction within the floating world.\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=\"\/sv\/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=\"\/sv\/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":58931025248591,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58931125190991,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58931125223759,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58931125256527,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58931125289295,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58931125322063,"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":58931125354831,"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":58931125387599,"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":58931125420367,"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":58931125453135,"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":58931125485903,"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":58931125518671,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Drawing-Lots-for-Prizes-Ho-biki-_Poster_CompositorV1_1790704271362.jpg?v=1790705699","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/drawing-lots-for-prizes-ho-biki-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}