Shira-uchikake – The white surcoat
1793-1804
Kitagawa Utamaro was basically the fashion photographer of 18th-century Japan, and this print proves it. He captures a woman in a stunning 'shira-uchikake' or white surcoat, but look at how he stretches her form! That incredibly long, sweeping train of fabric—patterned with bold red-and-white checks and intricate blue geometric designs—dominates the composition, turning a simple portrait into a study of texture and flow. The scroll in the corner suggests a poetic dedication, adding a layer of literary elegance to this glamorous snapshot of Edo-period style.
- Technique
- Woodblock print
- Material
- Paper
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