{"product_id":"performance-of-a-trained-monkey-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"Performance of a Trained Monkey - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting a domestic scene of a trained monkey performance, taken from the anthology The Young God Ebisu.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro originates from the illustrated poetry anthology titled The Young God Ebisu (Waka Ebisu), published around 1802. The composition depicts a domestic scene where a group of figures gathers to observe a street performer and his trained monkey. The monkey, dressed in a small red garment, stands at the centre of the room, held by a tether. To the right, two musicians accompany the performance with a shamisen and small percussion instruments.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro employs a characteristic Ukiyo-e approach, utilising flat planes of colour and clear, controlled lines to define the figures and their surroundings. The interior space is framed by decorative elements, including a large folding screen featuring a monochrome landscape painting, which adds a layer of depth to the composition. The figures are rendered with the artist's typical attention to posture and gesture, capturing the quiet focus of the audience. The colour palette remains restrained, relying on muted greens, soft ochres, and subtle reds to maintain a balanced visual harmony.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAs a master of the bijin-ga genre, Utamaro often focused on the lives of women, yet his work for poetry anthologies allowed him to explore broader social interactions and domestic customs of the Edo period. This print provides a glimpse into the entertainment culture of the time, where itinerant performers brought music and animal acts into private residences. The inclusion of the poetry anthology context suggests that such prints were intended for a literate audience, blending visual art with literary appreciation. The print demonstrates the technical precision of the woodblock medium, with fine lines used to delineate the patterns on the kimonos and the textures of the room's architecture.\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\/the-famous-practical-jokers-yajirobei-at-a-wayside-restaurant-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;\"\u003eThe Famous Practical Jokers: Yajirobei at a Wayside Restaurant - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/view-of-benten-shrine-on-nakanoshima-island-in-shinobazu-pond-ueno-park-utagawa-hiroshige-iii\" 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;\"\u003eView of Benten Shrine on Nakanoshima Island in Shinobazu Pond, Ueno Park - Utagawa Hiroshige III — Utagawa Hiroshige III\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":58933341585743,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933602058575,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":58933602091343,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":58933602124111,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":58933602156879,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":58933602189647,"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":58933602222415,"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":58933602255183,"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":58933602287951,"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":58933602320719,"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":58933602353487,"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":58933602386255,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/Performance-of-a-Trained-Monkey_Poster_CompositorV1_1790707842405.jpg?v=1790708459","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/performance-of-a-trained-monkey-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}