People Queuing to Get in the Benzaiten Hall at Shinobazu c. 1790s
kitagawautamaro
minneapolisinstituteofart
print, ink, color-on-paper
water colours
japan
handmade artwork painting
ink
fluid art
color-on-paper
naive art
watercolour bleed
watercolour illustration
mixed medium
mixed media
watercolor
watercolur painting
"People Queuing to Get in the Benzaiten Hall at Shinobazu," a woodblock print by renowned Japanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (c. 1753–1806), captures the lively scene of a crowd of people gathering to enter a temple. This ōban format print is a fine example of Utamaro's renowned talent for depicting everyday life in Edo (present-day Tokyo). The vibrant colors, detailed figures, and use of perspective evoke the atmosphere of bustling Edo society. The artwork showcases Utamaro's skill in portraying the diverse clothing and social interactions of the time, offering a glimpse into the cultural tapestry of Japan during the late Edo period.
Comments
Erected on an island in Shinobazu Pond, Benzaiten Hall is dedicated to the goddess of music and art. On the day of the annual festival in September, when the special statue of the goddess was exhibited in the hall, the temple gave away charms to worshippers. The charms were believed to magically bring wealth to their owners, so people from all over the city tried to visit the temple on that day. Utamaro, best known for his images of beautiful women, designed this print during the short period when he was interested in Western perspective.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
