Geheime affaire van een getrouwde man en een getrouwde vrouw - Kitagawa Utamaro
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Description
A classic shunga woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring fluid line work and the decorative aesthetic of the Edo period.
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro belongs to the shunga genre, a category of Japanese art depicting erotic scenes. Utamaro, a master of the ukiyo-e tradition, is recognised for his ability to capture the human form with fluid, expressive lines. In this composition, the artist focuses on the intimate interaction between two figures, using the characteristic flattened perspective and decorative patterning typical of the Edo period.
The figures are draped in patterned kimonos, with the fabric rendered in muted tones that contrast with the pale skin of the subjects. Utamaro employs calligraphic line work to define the contours of the bodies and the folds of the garments. The inclusion of text surrounding the figures is a common feature in such prints, providing narrative context or dialogue that adds a layer of literary engagement to the visual experience. To the side, a potted plant sits in a decorative vessel, serving as a quiet domestic detail that grounds the scene in a specific interior setting.
Utamaro was highly regarded for his bijin-ga, or pictures of beautiful women, and his technical skill in woodblock printing allowed for the subtle application of colour and texture. This work demonstrates his command of composition, balancing the physical closeness of the subjects with the surrounding calligraphic elements. The print reflects the social and cultural climate of the late 18th century in Japan, where such works were produced for a sophisticated urban audience. As a fine art print, this piece offers an opportunity to examine the technical precision of Japanese woodblock printing and the aesthetic conventions of the period.
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Because every print is made to order, we don't offer change-of-mind returns, refunds or exchanges. If your order arrives faulty, damaged or incorrect, we'll replace it free of charge — just contact us within 48 hours of delivery. See our refunds page for full details.
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Manufacturing
Each print is produced to order using 12-colour giclée printing on FSC-certified archival paper. Designed in Britain and printed at your nearest production hub to reduce waste and speed up delivery.
Care and materials
Specific Features
Every Solis piece is made to order with archival, gallery-quality materials built to last.
- Museum-grade giclée printing for rich, fade-resistant colour
- Archival matte fine-art paper, FSC-certified
- Multiple sizes and framing options available
- Frames in black, natural wood, dark wood or white
- Framed prints arrive ready to hang
Care & Cleaning
To keep your artwork looking its best:
- Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth
- Avoid prolonged direct sunlight
- Never use liquid cleaners on the print or canvas surface
- Keep in a dry, room-temperature space
- Handle prints with clean, dry hands
Materials & Sizing
Museum-grade giclée on FSC-certified archival matte paper, with framed and canvas options.
- Paper sizes: A4, A3, A2, A1, A0 and B2 (50×70 cm)
- Canvas: XS (20×30 cm) to Large (60×90 cm)
- Frames: black, natural wood, dark wood or white
Geheime affaire van een getrouwde man en een getrouwde vrouw - Kitagawa Utamaro
Artist Biography
Kitagawa Utamaro
Almost nothing is certain about his early life. He was born around 1753, possibly in Edo, possibly in Kyoto, possibly in Kawagoe. He began publishing prints in the 1770s under the guidance of the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo, who recognised what Utamaro could do with a portrait of a woman.
What he could do was unprecedented. He invented the okubi-e format: large head-and-shoulders portraits of individual women, mostly from the Yoshiwara pleasure district, printed in close-up with minimal background. Before Utamaro, bijin-ga (pictures of beautiful women) showed groups of figures in full length. He isolated the face, the tilt of the head, the expression. The prints are psychologically specific in a way that had not existed in Japanese printmaking.
He also published books of insect studies and volumes of shunga (erotica), and he made portraits of ordinary town women, not just courtesans. Ohisa and Okita, two shopgirls who appeared in his Three Beauties of the Present Day, became famous across Edo because of his prints. He turned real people into celebrities, which may be the first documented instance of an artist functioning as a kind of media platform.
Tsutaya Juzaburo died in 1797. Utamaro was reportedly devastated. Some critics feel his work never reached the same level afterward. He produced over two thousand prints in his career.
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