Kiyomizu Komachi 1790s Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese Utamaro plays with the device of framing in this print of a woman playing mekakushi, blindman's buff, with two small children. The tsuitate screen, which defines the space between the interwoven figures, gives the print its sophisticated complexity. As the woman momentarily observes the children through the tsuitate, which is equipped with a sliding paper door, she is framed in a sort of bijin-e, as portraits of beauties were called, which gives the print its title. Local belles were called Komachi after a ninth-century poetess renowned for her

Kiyomizu Komachi 1790s Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese Utamaro plays with the device of framing in this print of a woman playing mekakushi, blindman's buff, with two small children. The tsuitate screen, which defines the space between the interwoven figures, gives the print its sophisticated complexity. As the woman momentarily observes the children through the tsuitate, which is equipped with a sliding paper door, she is framed in a sort of bijin-e, as portraits of beauties were called, which gives the print its title. Local belles were called Komachi after a ninth-century poetess renowned for her beauty. At the same time, the screen accentuates the separation between the woman and the children. The children are completely absorbed in the excitement of the game, whereas the woman is self-conscious because she is an adult playing the part of a child. Her delight comes from watching the children play rather than from the Kiyomizu Komachi 54871

How we Work

Contribute

Legal

Contact Us