The Courtesan Itsuhata with Her Pipe
Original title: The Courtesan Itsuhata with Her Pipe
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu made this woodblock print around 1765, presenting the courtesan Itsuhata with her pipe. Printed in ink and color on paper in the yonkyokuban format, the sheet shows a woman in traditional dress holding a composed pose.
Description
Her gaze settles on the object in her hand, most likely a pipe, as she sits with one knee drawn up. A red kimono patterned with flowers and a green obi define her attire, and ornaments decorate her upswept hair. Japanese characters stand out against the background and give the picture its structure. Reds, greens and whites dominate, accompanied by restrained brown and gray tones. Crisp contours and precise details emerge without heavy shading.
Context
A leading woodblock artist of the Edo period, Suzuki Harunobu devoted himself chiefly to beauties (bijin-ga) and courtesans. This work dates from around 1765, when he was decisively advancing the development of multicolor printing (nishiki-e). It is in the yonkyokuban format, a smaller standard size of that era. Images of courtesans were among the popular subjects of ukiyo-e, which reflects the pleasure districts of Edo, present-day Tokyo.
Impact
A quiet elegance emanates from the sheet, carried by clear colors and the stylized figure. The harmonious arrangement and fine details create an intimate, almost contemplative mood that draws the viewer in.
Technique
For this print the design was cut into wooden blocks and transferred to paper with ink and color. Multicolor printing (nishiki-e) allowed subtle gradations of red, green and white, while black lines hold the contours precisely. The smaller yonkyokuban format was intended for collectors and private viewing.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)