{"product_id":"picture-book-of-the-hitachi-obi-enpon-futahashira-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Picture Book of the Hitachi Obi (Enpon futahashira) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA refined woodblock print from the shunga genre by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring elegant figures in a domestic setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print originates from the shunga genre, a category of Japanese erotic art that flourished during the Edo period. Kitagawa Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, produced this work as part of a larger illustrated book. The composition demonstrates his characteristic focus on the human form, specifically the elegant, elongated proportions of his female subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe scene depicts an intimate interaction between a man and a woman, framed within a domestic interior. Utamaro employs clean, precise lines to define the figures and the surrounding architectural elements, such as the sliding shoji screens. The inclusion of subtle patterns on the garments and the placement of everyday objects, like the tea set, provide a sense of realism to the setting. The text integrated into the composition serves as a narrative accompaniment, typical of the enpon format where image and literature function in tandem to convey the story.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro is recognised for his ability to capture psychological nuance through facial expressions and posture. In this print, the interaction between the two figures is conveyed through their proximity and the gentle gesture of the woman offering a cup. The monochromatic nature of the print allows the viewer to focus on the graphic quality of the lines and the balance of the composition. As a piece of historical ephemera, this work offers insight into the social and cultural practices of the pleasure quarters in eighteenth-century Japan. It remains a significant example of the technical skill involved in woodblock printing during this era, where the collaboration between artist, carver, and printer resulted in highly refined visual narratives.\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\/lovers-beside-a-sewing-box-katsushika-hokusai\" 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;\"\u003eLovers Beside a Sewing Box by Katsushika Hokusai\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/products\/lovers-beneath-a-mosquito-net-suzuki-harunobu\" 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;\"\u003eLovers Beneath a Mosquito Net by Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/sv\/collections\/kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eKitagawa Utamaro artwork →\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":59092318388559,"sku":null,"price":28.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59092337754447,"sku":null,"price":35.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59092337787215,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59092337819983,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59092337852751,"sku":null,"price":45.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59092337885519,"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":59092337918287,"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":59092337951055,"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":59092337983823,"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":59092338016591,"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":59092338049359,"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":59092338082127,"sku":null,"price":90.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Picture-Book-of-the-Hitachi-Obi-Enpon-futahashira-_Poster_CompositorV1_1791767909968-q80.jpg?v=1793097024","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.co.uk\/sv\/products\/picture-book-of-the-hitachi-obi-enpon-futahashira-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}