{"product_id":"the-niwaka-performers-kitagawa-utamaro","title":"The Niwaka Performers - Kitagawa Utamaro","description":"\u003cp\u003eA classic Ukiyo-e woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro depicting three women in costume for the Niwaka festival in Edo.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis woodblock print by Kitagawa Utamaro captures three figures participating in the Niwaka festival, an annual event held in the Yoshiwara pleasure district of Edo. Utamaro, a master of the bijin-ga genre, focuses on the delicate features and expressive countenances of the women. The composition utilises a close-up perspective, typical of his okubi-e, or large-head portraits, which allow for a focus on the subtle nuances of facial expression and hair styling.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe figures are dressed in costumes appropriate for the theatrical nature of the Niwaka performances. One woman carries a prop, likely a musical instrument or a decorative staff, while the others hold fans. The colour palette is restrained, relying on muted tones that reflect the ageing of the paper and the original pigment choices of the Edo period. The background is a flat, neutral grey, which pushes the figures forward and creates a sense of immediate presence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUtamaro was known for his ability to capture the personality of his subjects rather than merely depicting them as generic beauties. His line work is precise and fluid, defining the contours of the faces and the folds of the kimonos with economy. The patterns on the garments, featuring small fan motifs, provide a subtle decorative element that does not distract from the primary focus on the human subjects. This print is a representative example of the sophisticated aesthetic that defined the later years of the eighteenth century in Japan. It offers a glimpse into the social life of the Yoshiwara, where the boundaries between professional entertainers and the courtesans of the district often blurred during festival periods. The work remains a significant example of the technical skill involved in multi-colour woodblock printing during this era.\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-sixth-month-kazemachizuki-torii-kiyonaga\" 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 Sixth Month (Kazemachizuki) by Torii Kiyonaga\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/products\/night-rain-of-genjo-suzuki-harunobu\" 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;\"\u003eNight Rain of Genjo by Suzuki Harunobu\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"\/collections\/kitagawa-utamaro\" style=\"display:inline-block;background:#2a555a;border:1px solid #2a555a;border-radius:20px;padding:0.35rem 0.85rem;font-size:0.8rem;color:#ffffff;font-weight:500;text-decoration:none !important;background-image:none !important;\"\u003eKitagawa Utamaro artwork →\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":59131119337807,"sku":null,"price":29.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A3 (29.7 x 42  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131127071055,"sku":null,"price":39.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A2 (42 x 59.4  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131127103823,"sku":null,"price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131127136591,"sku":null,"price":69.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Poster \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ -","offer_id":59131127169359,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131127202127,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131127234895,"sku":null,"price":89.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A4 (21x29.7 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131127267663,"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":59131127300431,"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":59131127333199,"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":59131127365967,"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":59131127398735,"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":59131127431503,"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":59131127464271,"sku":null,"price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131127497039,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131127529807,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ B2 (50x70 cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131127562575,"sku":null,"price":225.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Black frame","offer_id":59131127595343,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Wood frame","offer_id":59131127628111,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Fine Art Framed \/ A1 (59.4 x 84.1  cm) \/ Dark wood frame","offer_id":59131127660879,"sku":null,"price":285.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0833\/9292\/1935\/files\/The-Niwaka-Performers_Poster_CompositorV1_1792114766544.jpg?v=1792135358","url":"https:\/\/www.solisprints.com\/products\/the-niwaka-performers-kitagawa-utamaro","provider":"Solis Prints","version":"1.0","type":"link"}