Artwork preview

A Beauty Looking Down upon a Young Man Reading a Love Letter

Utagawa Toyoharu

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

The image depicts a vertical, narrow Japanese woodblock print, in muted colors, primarily shades of peach, tan, and black. A woman stands looking down at a man. The woman wears a kimono with a patterned design, and her hair is styled with a decorative piece. She stands on a tatami mat floor. The man sits on a low table or bench, reading a letter. He wears a simple kimono and sits seiza-style. The background includes a low table or shelf with objects on it, and a window or screen with a decorative design. Above the woman, a ceiling or awning is visible. The overall composition is simple, with bold lines and minimal shading.

Artwork Details

Date
ca. 1771
Medium
Woodblock print (pillar print); ink and color on paper
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
111 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette