The four virtues 1790

Kitagawa Utamaro created "The Four Virtues," a woodblock print, using a delicate balance of line and color to depict an intimate scene. Notice how the composition arranges figures in a gentle, pyramidal form, lending stability and grace to the print. The figures are arranged in a way that creates a sense of depth and relation, with the mirror providing a secondary plane that extends the pictorial space. Utamaro explores themes of domesticity and refinement. Through a formalist lens, the detailed patterns and textures of the kimonos stand out—each fold and design element meticulously rendered, inviting us to consider their symbolic weight within the social context of the time. The soft, muted tones and delicate lines capture a sense of calm and contemplation, reflecting the cultural values of the Edo period. This woodblock print invites ongoing contemplation, offering us a glimpse into both the aesthetic values and the societal structures of 18th-century Japan.