Approximate Measurements
28cm x 35.6cm ≈ 11" x 14"
Inu no Koku
This artwork features a courtesan gracefully leaning over to whisper in the ear of her attendant, or kamuro, as she pens a long letter presumably to a client. Beside her is a lacquer writing box (suzuribako) fitted with an ink slate, chrysanthemum-form water dropper (suiteki) and brush.
The title is 戌の刻 (or 狗の刻) which is pronounced "Inu no Koku" which means Hour of the Dog. This is typically used to represent the evening between 7PM and 9PM (preceded by the Hour of the Monkey and followed by the Hour of the Boar). This Hour of the Dog artwork is part of the series "Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)"
On the left, you will find a signature with the pen name 歌麿筆 (Utamaro Hitsu). The artist's full name is 喜多川歌麿 (Kitagawa Utamaro). He was born in Japan in Edo (now known as Tokyo) around 1753. He only lived to the age of 53, dying in 1806.
Original artist: Kitagawa Utamaro / 喜多川歌麿 (1753-1806).
Original woodblocks for this print were created in Japan, in 1795. Some prints from the original woodblocks were created as late as 1923.