A Night-cap c. 1796

"A Night-cap" (c. 1796) by Utagawa Toyohiro depicts a scene of intimate domesticity. A woman in a lavish blue robe, seemingly a courtesan, stands poised and attentive as a man kneels, preparing a cup of tea. The composition, framed by a decorative border, suggests a private moment, perhaps a nightcap ritual, emphasizing the artist's focus on the beauty of everyday life in Edo-period Japan. This painting is an excellent example of ukiyo-e, a genre of Japanese art that captured the vibrant and fleeting beauty of everyday life.