The Sixth Month (Rokugatsu) - Kitagawa Utamaro
Archival giclée
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Description
A classic ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro, depicting a genre scene of daily life in Edo-period Japan, complete with traditional kyoka poetry.
This woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicts a scene from the sixth month of the lunar calendar. It belongs to a series illustrating genre scenes paired with kyoka, a form of humorous or satirical waka poetry. The composition features two figures engaged in daily activities, set against the backdrop of a willow tree. One figure stands, drinking from a bowl, while the other attends to a portable food stall, likely serving noodles.
Utamaro is recognised for his mastery of the ukiyo-e tradition, particularly his ability to capture the nuances of human gesture and expression. In this work, the lines are delicate and precise, characteristic of the artist's refined approach to woodblock printing. The inclusion of calligraphy adds a layer of literary context, integrating text and image in a manner common to the period. The palette is restrained, relying on soft tones to define the figures and the surrounding environment, which allows the viewer to focus on the interaction between the subjects.
The print offers a glimpse into the social fabric of Edo-period Japan, where street vendors and commoners were frequent subjects for artists. By documenting these fleeting moments, Utamaro provides a record of urban life, fashion, and customs. The willow tree, often associated with the summer season in Japanese art, provides a sense of place and time. This piece demonstrates the technical skill required to produce multi-block prints, where each colour and line is carefully registered to create a cohesive final image. Collectors of Japanese prints will appreciate the balance between the calligraphic elements and the figurative representation, as well as the historical context provided by the kyoka verses.
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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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We ship worldwide, printing at the production hub nearest to your delivery address. Delivery times and costs vary by destination — you'll see the options available to you at checkout.
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
The Sixth Month (Rokugatsu) - 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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