Description
A red-faced, horned demon dressed as an itinerant priest stands beside a young woman in a pale floral robe in Kitagawa Utamaro’s print. The demon’s black and pale garments, staff and round chest emblem give the companion a distinct appearance. The pairing brings an elegant human figure into the same pictorial space as a character whose extraordinary features remain unmistakable.
Made around 1804, the ink-and-color woodblock print identifies the demon through the tradition of Ōtsu pictures. The priestly costume introduces a playful contradiction between outward role and visible nature, while the woman provides a quieter counterpoint. Utamaro makes comparison central to the design, letting differences in face, dress and bearing establish its liveliness. The image joins two kinds of figure without needing to supply an additional story for their encounter.
Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Kitagawa Utamaro collection.
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