Preparing a Meal - Kitagawa Utamaro
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Description
A refined woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting two women engaged in domestic food preparation, showcasing the elegance of Edo period genre scenes.
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts two women engaged in the domestic task of food preparation. The composition focuses on the interaction between the figures, a hallmark of Utamaro's work during the mid-1790s. The standing woman holds a cloth, while the seated woman grates daikon radish on a small board. The artist employs his characteristic 'okubi-e' (large-head) influence, even within a genre scene, by focusing on the expressive facial features and the elegant posture of the subjects.
The print demonstrates the technical precision of the Edo period publishing houses. The lines are fine and controlled, defining the folds of the kimonos and the intricate hairstyles. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft earth tones, muted greens, and subtle reds to create a sense of calm. The background remains largely empty, which directs the viewer's attention to the activity at the centre of the frame. The use of negative space is a deliberate choice, common in Ukiyo-e, to balance the visual weight of the figures.
Utamaro was a master of the 'bijin-ga' genre, which focused on the depiction of beautiful women. In this work, he elevates a mundane household chore into a subject of artistic study. The attention to detail in the patterns of the clothing and the specific tools used for cooking provides a glimpse into the daily life of the period. The print is an example of the collaborative process between the artist, the woodcarver, and the printer, who worked together to achieve the subtle gradations and clean lines seen here. This piece remains a clear example of the aesthetic values prevalent in late 18th-century Japanese printmaking.
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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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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
Preparing a Meal - 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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