← Suzuki Harunobu

Young Man and Woman Caught in the Rain while Enjoying Cherry Blossoms (Sakura-gari)

Original title: Young Man and Woman Caught in the Rain while Enjoying Cherry Blossoms (Sakura-gari)

Artist

Suzuki Harunobu

Date

ca. 1768–70

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Dimensions

H. 11 3/8 in. (28.9 cm); W. 8 3/8 in. (21.3 cm)

Credit line

Henry L. Phillips Collection, Bequest of Henry L. Phillips, 1939

kurzbeschreibung

Suzuki Harunobu created this colour woodblock print around 1768–70, showing a young couple viewing cherry blossoms under an umbrella. The sheet belongs to the nishiki-e, the multi-coloured woodblock prints, and measures roughly 28.9 × 21.3 cm.

Description

Two figures stand in the foreground beneath an open umbrella held by the person on the left; the one on the right wears a large hat. Behind them, trees are in bloom, their pale blossoms standing out against a cloud-like sky. Fine rain lines run through the image, making the shower visible. The palette is pastel-like and draws on traditional Japanese tones. The layout feels symmetrical, with the two people forming the central element before the tree.

Context

Harunobu is regarded as a pioneer of the multi-coloured woodblock print (nishiki-e), which emerged in the 1760s and fundamentally changed printmaking. Cherry-blossom viewing (hanami) was a cherished social event in the Edo period. By showing a young couple in the rain, Harunobu links everyday scenes with a poetic mood characteristic of his idealised figures. The dating around 1768–70 falls in his most productive phase.

Impact

The delicate pastel tones and calm symmetry give the sheet a quiet, almost elegiac mood. An atmospheric tension arises between the rain shower and the glowing blossoms, drawing the viewer into the scene. Through their graceful posture and fine linework, Harunobu's figures appear elegant and timeless.

Technique

The work was printed as a woodblock print (ukiyo-e) with ink and colours on paper. The multi-colour printing technique (nishiki-e) required several blocks, one per colour, which had to be precisely aligned. The fine rain lines and soft transitions of the colour areas attest to the high craftsmanship of the print workshop.

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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)