An Oiran Seated upon a Bed, Writing a Letter
Original title: An Oiran Seated upon a Bed, Writing a Letter
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu made this colour woodblock print around 1769. It shows an oiran seated on a bed, writing a letter. The image is executed in ink and colour on paper and belongs to the genre of Japanese colour woodblock printing.
Description
In a vertical format, a woman in traditional Japanese clothing with patterned fabrics sits and writes, holding an envelope. Her hair is piled up and decorated with accessories. On the floor beside her stand a patterned basket and a cup with a stick. Parts of the room are visible, including a green carpet and possibly a table. The palette feels earthy, with accents of blue and red; the light falls evenly, without strong shadows.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu was an outstanding woodblock artist of the Edo period and is regarded as a pioneer of multicolour woodblock printing (nishiki-e). Oiran, high-ranking courtesans, were among the most common subjects of ukiyo-e art in the eighteenth century. Such prints circulated as single sheets or in series and were aimed at an urban audience.
Impact
A quiet, intimate mood emanates from the scene, carried by delicate lines and harmonious colouring. The precise rendering of the figure and the objects gives the sheet a clear, almost graphic elegance.
Technique
Harunobu worked with woodblock printing in ink and colour on paper: the motif is cut into woodblocks and then printed. He used multicolour printing to achieve fine colour gradations and details.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)