Daruma in a Boat with an Attendant
Original title: Daruma in a Boat with an Attendant
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu’s color woodblock print from the late 1760s presents the Buddhist patriarch Daruma in a boat, accompanied by a woman at the rudder. The sheet is a nishiki-e, a multicolored woodblock print in ink and color on paper, measuring 28.6 × 20.6 cm. It belongs to the ukiyo-e genre.
Description
A bearded man with a broad forehead and striking features sits in the boat, wearing a long brown robe. Beside him stands a woman in traditional clothing whose pattern suggests waves or ships; she holds a rudder. Stylized waves with foamy crests carry the boat, while bamboo stands hint at the background. Browns, gray, and beige dominate the muted palette, from which colorful accents in the garments emerge. Chinese characters catch the eye in the lower right.
Context
As a pioneer of nishiki-e—the multicolored woodblock print that emerged in Edo (present-day Tokyo) in the 1760s—Suzuki Harunobu shaped the printmaking of his time. Daruma, the legendary founder of Zen Buddhism, often appears in Japanese art with humor or allegory. The unusual boat scene with female company suggests a parodic or narrative intent. Although Harunobu devoted himself mainly to elegant depictions of women, he also took up comic and religious themes.
Impact
Calm and balanced, the layout unfolds; clear lines and restrained color create a quiet, almost intimate mood. Daruma’s grotesque features contrast with the woman’s graceful posture, producing a gentle irony. Even lighting and flat design underscore the decorative character of the print.
Technique
Several woodblocks were used for printing, one per color—the hallmark of the nishiki-e technique. Ink and color were applied to paper, with fine lines and clearly defined color areas defining Harunobu’s style. At 28.6 × 20.6 cm, the sheet corresponds to the vertical chūban format.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)