A Young Woman Peeling Fruit While Her Child Watches

Print

Frances M. Maguire Art Museum

Name/Title

A Young Woman Peeling Fruit While Her Child Watches

Entry/Object ID

1996.3.1

Description

20th c. reproduction of the woodblock print titled "A Young Woman Peeling Fruit While Her Child Watches," by Kitagawa Utamaro.

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper, Ink

Made/Created

Artist Information

Artist

Kitagawa Utamaro

Attribution

After

Time Period

20th Century

Notes

Original was created 1806-20

Interpretative Labels

Label Type

Credit Line

Label

Saint Joseph's University Purchase

Label

Utamaro depicts a woman preparing summer fruit as the child peeking over her knee looks on in anticipation. She may be peeling nashi, a refreshing snack popular when the weather is extremely hot. The intimate domestic scene captures a serene moment, with delicate attention to the woman’s gestures and expressions. This focus on everyday life reveals themes of vitality and the passage of seasons, emphasizing the beauty of simple tasks. Notice how elegance blends with naturalism, highlighting the connection between women and their domestic roles in Edo-period Japan.

Label Type

Credit Line

Label

Label written by Kelley Hennessy