Drawing the First Water of the New Year
Original title: Drawing the First Water of the New Year
kurzbeschreibung
Two kimono-clad figures move through an interior where a New Year custom is being carried out. Suzuki Harunobu captured this moment around 1769–70 as a colour woodblock print on paper, turning an everyday action into a carefully balanced image.
Description
On the left someone carries a bucket and a basin; on the right another person stands at a bamboo lattice. A small potted tree fills the rear of the room, and in the upper left a bird and a setting sun can be made out. Chinese characters frame the picture, giving the title and perhaps narrative hints as well. Pale pastel tones dominate the sheet, with accents in red and brown.
Context
Harunobu ranks among the formative woodblock artists of the eighteenth century and pushed forward the development of multicolour printing, nishiki-e. Drawing water on New Year's Day refers to the custom of fetching fresh water on the first day of the year, to which good fortune was attributed. Such motifs were widespread in the Edo period, capturing both city life and seasonal festivals.
Impact
Calm and intimacy emanate from this view; the two figures are wholly absorbed in their everyday yet meaningful task. The delicate colours and crisp contours give the sheet an elegant, almost ceremonial character.
Technique
Several woodblocks were used for printing, each applying its own colour to the paper. The sharp outlines and nuanced colouring attest to the care characteristic of Harunobu and to the design possibilities of multicolour printing.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)