First Day of Autumn (Risshu)
Original title: First Day of Autumn (Risshu)
kurzbeschreibung
Two people in kimono sit in a Japanese room, held in a moment at the start of autumn: Suzuki Harunobu's print 'First Day of Autumn (Risshu)' dates from around 1865. Printed with ink and color on paper, this woodblock print captures the seasonal mood of the subject.
Description
Seated on the floor and looking to the right, two figures appear in traditional dress. The kimono on the left carries a striped pattern, while the one on the right is red with a different design. A decorated sliding door closes off the back of the room, and a folding screen with an animal motif hangs on the wall. Above the scene stretches a field of Chinese characters. Muted, harmonized colors meet clearly drawn contours.
Context
Harunobu ranks among the important masters of Japanese woodblock printing in the 18th century and is regarded as a pioneer of multicolor printing (nishiki-e). The making of this print falls in the Edo period, a phase of cultural flourishing and rising urban life in Japan. With 'First Day of Autumn,' the motif takes up the Japanese calendar and the seasonal festivals tied to it.
Impact
Calm emanates from the arrangement of the figures; the coordinated tones support this impression and create a quiet, reflective mood. Clear contours and carefully placed details draw the eye to the two people and their surroundings, so that a familiar everyday scene becomes vividly present.
Technique
Printed in ink and color on paper, the image depends on confidently drawn lines and restrained tonal gradations. Several printing blocks were used for the different colors, as was standard in Japanese woodblock practice of the time. The precise contours and the muted palette follow directly from this process.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)