{"product_id":"the-moon-mad-monk-kyogetsubo-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"The Moon-Mad Monk (Kyōgetsubō) - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA rare 1789 woodblock print cover by Kitagawa Utamaro, featuring elegant calligraphy and a moody, nocturnal aesthetic.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print serves as the cover for the kyōka (mad verse) anthology titled Kyōgetsubō, or The Moon-Mad Monk, published in 1789. Kitagawa Utamaro, a master of the Ukiyo-e tradition, designed this cover with a focus on atmospheric depth rather than the figurative subjects for which he is better known. The composition features a dark, indigo-toned field that suggests a night sky or a shadowed landscape. Subtle, ghost-like silhouettes of grasses or low vegetation emerge from the darkness, rendered in muted ochre and pale tones. These elements provide a sense of scale and environment, grounding the abstract darkness in a recognisable, if nocturnal, setting.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe left side of the print is dominated by a vertical paper strip, a common feature in Japanese book design, which displays the title in bold, calligraphic kanji. The characters for Kyōgetsubō are written with fluid, expressive strokes that contrast with the quiet, textured background. A red seal is visible near the bottom of the title strip, providing a small but necessary visual anchor. The overall aesthetic is one of restraint and deliberate simplicity, typical of the sophisticated tastes found in the literary circles of Edo-period Japan. This piece demonstrates Utamaro's ability to manipulate negative space and colour to evoke a specific mood, moving away from the busy, multi-coloured prints often associated with the genre. The weathered texture of the paper, visible in the scan, adds a layer of historical authenticity to the work, showing the physical reality of a late eighteenth-century book cover. It is a rare example of Utamaro's graphic design work, showcasing his skill in typography and layout as much as his illustrative capability.\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\/ladies-surrounding-a-cart-utamaro-ii\" 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;\"\u003eLadies Surrounding a Cart - Utamaro II — Utamaro II\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/view-of-nihonbashi-itchome-street-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;\"\u003eView of Nihonbashi Itchōme Street - Utagawa Hiroshige — Utagawa Hiroshige\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":59086334361935,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59086339113295,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59086339146063,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59086339178831,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59086339211599,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59086339244367,"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":59086339277135,"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":59086339309903,"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":59086339342671,"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":59086339375439,"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":59086339408207,"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":59086339440975,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Moon-Mad-Monk-Ky-getsub-_Poster_CompositorV1_1791681744780.jpg?v=1791681865","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/the-moon-mad-monk-kyogetsubo-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}