A scene from the 'Poem of the Pillow' 1788

This woodblock print, "A scene from the 'Poem of the Pillow'" by Kitagawa Utamaro, was created in 1788. The image depicts two figures, a man and a woman, in a domestic setting. The woman, wearing a striking red and black plaid robe, is in the process of arranging her hair, while the man, clad in a dark-colored robe, looks on. The composition, with its focus on the intimate details of daily life, is characteristic of Utamaro's style, known as "bijin-ga" (pictures of beautiful women). This artwork, which evokes the beauty of traditional Japanese life and romance, is a prime example of Utamaro's mastery of the woodblock printing technique.