Description
Kitagawa Utamaro brings Yamauba and Kintarō into a close exchange centered on the child’s hair. The adult looks downward with loose dark strands framing her face, while the child below raises a hand near her and wears a red checked garment. Their overlapping positions make the small act of arranging a topknot part of a lively shared space.
Made around 1795, this ink-and-color woodblock print identifies its action as Yamauba tying Kintarō’s topknot. The legendary figures are presented through an intimate task rather than a distant adventure, giving their relationship an immediately recognizable tenderness. Utamaro balances the dark hair with lighter faces and the child’s patterned clothing. The design invites attention to contact and response, allowing a familiar act of care to carry the emotional interest of the scene.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Kitagawa Utamaro collection.
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