{"product_id":"new-year-street-performers-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"New Year Street-Performers - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA traditional woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting a New Year lion dance performance, taken from the kyoka anthology The Young God Ebisu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts a traditional New Year scene, specifically the performance of the shishimai, or lion dance. The work originates from the kyoka anthology titled The Young God Ebisu (Waka Ebisu), a collection of humorous poetry that often featured illustrations by prominent artists of the Edo period. Utamaro, known primarily for his portraits of women, demonstrates his versatility here by capturing a lively outdoor performance.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the centre of the composition, a performer manipulates a large green cloth representing the lion, while a companion plays a flute. The lion mask, rendered in a bold red, provides a visual contrast to the muted tones of the surrounding architecture and the performers' garments. To the left, a small thatched structure and a pine branch suggest the seasonal context of the New Year festivities. In the background, a group of women and children watch the spectacle from an elevated wooden platform, their expressions conveying a sense of quiet observation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro employs a clean, linear style, typical of the Ukiyo-e tradition. The composition is balanced, with the action of the lion dance contained within the foreground, while the architectural elements provide a structured frame. The use of colour is restrained, relying on soft greens, earthy browns, and the striking red of the lion mask to guide the viewer's eye. This print offers a glimpse into the social customs of late eighteenth-century Japan, documenting the intersection of public performance and private observation. The delicate line work and the careful arrangement of figures reflect the technical precision required in the production of high-quality woodblock prints during this period.\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\/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\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/nagakubo-station-28-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;\"\u003eNagakubo (Station 28) - 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":58933706621263,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933823242575,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933823275343,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933823308111,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933823340879,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933823373647,"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":58933823406415,"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":58933823439183,"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":58933823471951,"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":58933823504719,"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":58933823537487,"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":58933823570255,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/New-Year-Street-Performers_Poster_CompositorV1_1790708286107.jpg?v=1790708905","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/new-year-street-performers-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}