A Tea-house Waitress
Kitagawa Utamaro Japanese
Not on view
Utamaro dramatically changes the image of the teahouse beauty in this half-length portrait of Okita, the famous waitress of the Naniwa-ya teahouse in Edo. He depicts Okita as not only a local beauty but also as a subject of admiration, an ideal woman. Eliminating every narrative element, he goes so far as to create a pure icon. The cup and tray, like attributes in a religious painting, now serve only to identify her as a teahouse waitress. The silver mica, which Utamaro is credited with being the first to use, shines like a mirror, making the figure stand out as if in bold relief. It also brightens the entire scene and glorifies Okita's beauty.
This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
