Woman Dancer in Daimyo's Palace
Original title: Woman Dancer in Daimyo's Palace
kurzbeschreibung
A dancer performs in an interior, surrounded by musicians and other attendees, in a color woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu. The chūban vertical format bears no date, is printed with ink and color on paper, and belongs to the ukiyo-e art of the 18th century.
Description
A woman in white robe, large fan raised and white hat on her head, moves at the front. Four figures in traditional dress recline beside her: two hold musical instruments, the others chat. A fusuma with a painted landscape of trees and mountains closes off the room. Earth tones dominate the palette, with red and blue as accents; light falls evenly and without cast shadows.
Context
Harunobu was one of the defining masters of ukiyo-e in 18th-century Japan and became known for his multicolored woodblock prints (nishiki-e). A dancer at the court of a daimyō (feudal lord) — this motif brings courtly life and entertainment of the Edo period before the eyes. Wealthy city dwellers valued such scenes because they brought the world of the court close to them.
Impact
The calm seating arrangement and the dancer as the center give the image a balanced, elegant structure. Clear contours and coordinated colors create a quiet, almost meditative mood characteristic of Harunobu.
Technique
For printing, the motif was cut into woodblocks and then transferred to paper with ink and colors. Sharp contours and flatly applied color correspond to Japanese printing practice of the 18th century.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)