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Hour of the Tiger (Tora no koku = 4 AM) from the series Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seirô jûni toki tsuzuki), Late Edo period, circa 1794 by Kitagawa Utamaro — Japanese Woodblock print

Hour of the Tiger (Tora no koku = 4 AM) from the series Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seirô jûni toki tsuzuki), Late Edo period, circa 1794

by Kitagawa Utamaro

Ukiyo-e
YoshiwaraAnimals
Tokyo
Medium:
Woodblock print
Format:
Oban

Description

From the "Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara" series (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki), dated around 1794, this sheet documents the "Hour of the Tiger" — 4 AM, the final hours before dawn. At this hour the Yoshiwara was winding down from its nocturnal activity, and the composition likely depicts exhausted or drowsy figures in the dim light of early morning. The animals tag marks this zodiacal hour, the tiger being associated with the pre-dawn hours in traditional Japanese timekeeping.

More Prints by Kitagawa Utamaro

Akashi of the Tamaya, from the series Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara (Seiro nana Komachi) (Tamaya uchi Akashi, Uraji, Shimano) by Kitagawa Utamaro

Akashi of the Tamaya, from the series Seven Komachis of Yoshiwara (Seiro nana Komachi) (Tamaya uchi Akashi, Uraji, Shimano)

Woodblock print

Ikebana arrangement of Peony and Willow in Dragon Pot by Kitagawa Utamaro

Ikebana arrangement of Peony and Willow in Dragon Pot

1781–1806

Woodblock print (nishiki-e), ink and color on paper

The Greatest Beauties of Our Time (Toji zensei bijin zoroe): Somenosuke of the Matsubaya with Attendants Wakagi and Wakaba by Kitagawa Utamaro

The Greatest Beauties of Our Time (Toji zensei bijin zoroe): Somenosuke of the Matsubaya with Attendants Wakagi and Wakaba

Woodblock print

Beauty and Attendant on New Year’s Day, from the series “Pleasures for Beauties on the Five Festival Days" ("Bijin gosetsu no asobi") by Kitagawa Utamaro

Beauty and Attendant on New Year’s Day, from the series “Pleasures for Beauties on the Five Festival Days" ("Bijin gosetsu no asobi")

c. 1800

Color woodblock print; ōban

More Yoshiwara Prints

Hour of the Rat [12pm] (Ne no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Rat [12pm] (Ne no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)"

c. 1794

Color woodblock print; oban

Hour of the Ox [2am] (Ushi no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)" by Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Ox [2am] (Ushi no koku), from the series "The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seiro juni toki tsuzuki)"

c. 1794

Color woodblock print; oban

Hour of the Hare [6am] (U no koku), from the series “The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara” ("Seiro juni toki tsuzuki") by Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Hare [6am] (U no koku), from the series “The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara” ("Seiro juni toki tsuzuki")

c. 1794

Color woodblock print; oban

Hour of the Monkey [4pm] (Saru no koku), from the series “The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara” ("Seiro juni toki tsuzuki") by Kitagawa Utamaro

Hour of the Monkey [4pm] (Saru no koku), from the series “The Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara” ("Seiro juni toki tsuzuki")

c. 1794

Color woodblock print; oban

Frequently Asked Questions

Hour of the Tiger (Tora no koku = 4 AM) from the series Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seirô jûni toki tsuzuki), Late Edo period, circa 1794 was created by Kitagawa Utamaro (喜多川歌麿).

Yes — Hour of the Tiger (Tora no koku = 4 AM) from the series Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seirô jûni toki tsuzuki), Late Edo period, circa 1794 is part of the Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara series by Kitagawa Utamaro.

Hour of the Tiger (Tora no koku = 4 AM) from the series Twelve Hours in Yoshiwara (Seirô jûni toki tsuzuki), Late Edo period, circa 1794 depicts yoshiwara and animals, set at Tokyo.