Artwork preview

Catching fireflies (Hotaru gari)

Kitagawa Utamaro

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A triptych print depicting women and a child in a nighttime scene. The women wear kimonos in shades of tan, peach, green, and black with various patterns. They have their hair pulled back and wear geta or zori footwear. The women carry round lanterns except for two. The woman furthest right holds a lantern with a circular object inside. The scene features plants including tall grass, bushes, and a tree missing leaves on the left. The background transitions from dark at the top to light gray near the bottom.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1796–97
Medium
Triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
599 × 294 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette