(Above) Eiho Hirezaki
Bejin Beautiful Woman -no date given
(Below) Kitagawa Utamaro
Picture of the Upper Class (1795) Two Ranks of Young Women According to Their Fashions
Bejin Beautiful Woman -no date given
(Below) Kitagawa Utamaro
Picture of the Upper Class (1795) Two Ranks of Young Women According to Their Fashions
In Japan, Kimonos were extremely popular between classes and became even more common in the 17th century. Japanese fashion was greatly influenced by China.This was because Japans trading relationship with China in the Tang styles and Sui dynasty.
Women often wore silk kimonos and floral fabrics that wrapped tightly around the body. However, clothing in the western world was mostly unisex (men wore Kimonos as well) the only major difference between the two was their color, and length and tightness of the sleeves. An obi or sash that was tied with the kimono was worn almost regularly. The obi would be elaborate and decorated. Some obi's were close to 4 meters long and tied into a butterfly or flower knot. On special occasions, women wore narrow paneled jackets or Hoaries for large banquets, marriages, feasts, ect. These were worn over the kimono and tied below the chest with a string. Clogs, which were made up of wood and 2 straps, were commonly worn by all Japanese. Also for footwear, Zories and split toe socks were worn. In this wood block print, there is a large emphasis on the broadness and style of the two kimonos. Both are created with vivid patterns and stand out front the lemon-yellow background that Utamaro portrays them in. Both of the young ladies look dainty and elegant. The two different positions of the women show the viewer which is the higher class by the way their two heights are increasingly different (one is kneeling down by ones side, and the other is shown taller and has straighter posture). Just by looking at this painting, one can see the layers of clothing and wraps the women wore in this time period. In this style, the wrists wants the viewers attention to be more focused on the attire of the figures then on their facial characteristics. |
(Left) Lee Jay Walker (Right) Kitgawa Utamaro
Women with a Fox mask and Walking Stick, 1810
Women in Imperial Kyoto -date not given
Women with a Fox mask and Walking Stick, 1810
Women in Imperial Kyoto -date not given