{"product_id":"no-4-shi-from-the-series-women-engaged-in-the-sericulture-industry-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"No. 4 (shi), from the series Women Engaged in the Sericulture Industry - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting women engaged in the traditional Japanese silk production process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro belongs to the series Joshoku kaiko tewaza-gusa, or Women Engaged in the Sericulture Industry. Produced during the late 18th century, the series documents the various stages of silk production, an essential economic activity in Edo-period Japan. Utamaro, known for his mastery of the bijin-ga genre, applies his characteristic focus on the female form to a domestic and industrial setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe composition depicts three women occupied with the care of silkworms. One woman stands at the rear, holding a tray of larvae, while another leans over a low table, carefully sorting the worms. A third woman, positioned to the right, holds an empty wooden box, ready to assist. The figures are rendered with the elongated proportions and graceful posture typical of Utamaro's work. Their kimonos feature subtle patterns, and their hair is styled in the fashion of the period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro uses a balanced, clear composition to organise the workspace. The shelves and trays provide a geometric structure that contrasts with the organic curves of the figures. The inclusion of text in the upper portion of the print provides context regarding the specific stage of sericulture being performed. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on soft tones that allow the viewer to focus on the interaction between the figures and their task. This print offers a glimpse into the daily lives of women in the late Edo period, moving beyond the typical focus on courtesans to capture a moment of collective labour. The work demonstrates the technical precision of the woodblock medium, with clean lines and careful registration of colour blocks.\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=\"\/products\/shimosuwa-from-sixty-nine-stations-of-the-kisokaido-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;\"\u003eShimosuwa, from Sixty-Nine Stations of the Kisokaidō - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/vehicles-on-the-streets-of-tokyo-utagawa-yoshitora\" 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;\"\u003eVehicles on the Streets of Tokyo - Utagawa Yoshitora — Utagawa Yoshitora\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":58969965920591,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58969990299983,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58969990332751,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58969990365519,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58969990398287,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58969990431055,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58969990463823,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58969990496591,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58969990529359,"sku":null,"price":119.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58969990562127,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58969990594895,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58969990627663,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/No_Poster_CompositorV1_1790802625565.jpg?v=1790803127","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/no-4-shi-from-the-series-women-engaged-in-the-sericulture-industry-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}