Poem by Henjō Sojō
Original title: Poem by Henjō Sojō
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu made this colour woodblock print around 1766, bringing together two figures in a Japanese interior. The sheet is executed in ink and colour on paper and bears the title 'Poem by Henjō Sojō'.
Description
One of the two figures crouches on a wooden table, bent over a piece of work, while the other stands beside her holding a bucket. Both wear traditional Japanese clothing, and the seated woman's hair is gathered in a knot. Behind them a window opens, its bamboo bars accompanied from above by characters of Chinese origin. Earth tones and blue dominate the palette, with light areas providing accents in between.
Context
Harunobu was active during the Edo period, a cultural flowering in Japan, and is regarded as a pioneer of multicolour woodblock printing, whose technical possibilities unfolded from the 1760s onward. This sheet belongs to a series illustrating poems by famous poets; here it is Henjō Sojō, a ninth-century monk and poet.
Impact
The layout is balanced and quiet, with the figures going about an everyday task. Clear contours and restrained colours create a familiar, almost poetic mood.
Technique
The sheet was printed by the woodblock method, transferring ink and pigments onto paper. The multicolour printing that Harunobu brought to maturity opened up fine gradations in colouring.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)