A Tea-house Waitress

Kitagawa Utamaro

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art