The Bijin Kinko
Original title: The Bijin Kinko
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu made this woodblock print, 'Die Bijin Kinko', around 1766 using ink and color on paper. It shows a woman in traditional Japanese dress holding a written sheet in both hands; behind her, a fish-like creature emerges from the water.
Description
The woman wears a long fabric wrapped around her body with a top layer over it; her hair is elaborately styled and ornamented. She looks down at the sheet of characters she holds with both hands. In the background appears a large black creature resembling a fish or shark, set in rippling water. Chinese characters are visible at upper right, possibly a signature. The palette stays mostly in brown and gray tones; the lighter paper provides color accents.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu ranks among the important Japanese ukiyo-e artists of the eighteenth century and is known for his refined woodblock prints. Around 1766, when this sheet was made, he perfected multicolor printing (nishiki-e). The pairing of a woman with a written sheet and a fish-like being likely points to a literary or mythological reference rooted in the Edo period.
Impact
The arrangement feels calm and concentrated; the inward-looking woman creates an intimate mood. The contrast between precise line work and muted colors gives the image an elegant, restrained aesthetic.
Technique
Ink and color were applied here through woodblock printing on paper. The clear contours and exact linework correspond to the technique in which the drawing is cut into wood and then printed.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)