Viewing Iris in the Rain
Original title: Viewing Iris in the Rain
kurzbeschreibung
Unlike many prints of the period that place women alone indoors, Suzuki Harunobu's 'Viewing Irises in the Rain' (1764–70) joins inside and outside: two women look through a window toward the open air, one holding a yellow umbrella. The subject is rendered as a color woodblock print on paper.
Description
Two women in Japanese dress occupy a room with a window. The left figure kneels, holding a yellow rain umbrella, her gaze directed outside toward the water. The standing woman turns toward the kneeling one. Both kimono show elaborate patterns and a variety of colors. Through the window opening, plants and leaves intrude into the interior.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu ranks among the outstanding figures of Edo-period Japanese woodblock printing. As a pioneer of multicolor printing (nishiki-e), which became established from the mid-1760s, he shaped its development decisively. During those years he produced numerous images of elegant women and intimate scenes of daily life, the milieu in which this print also originated.
Impact
A quiet, confiding mood pervades the image. Soft light from outside seems to wrap around the scene. Muted colors and carefully drawn lines contribute to this contemplative atmosphere and invite the viewer to pause.
Technique
Ink and color on paper, executed as a woodblock print, define the sheet. Graded color transitions and precise contours are typical of the Edo period. The medium's flat character is used deliberately to create depth and an effect of light.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)