Demon-crushing Bow
Original title: Demon-crushing Bow
kurzbeschreibung
Around 1765 Suzuki Harunobu made the colour woodblock print "Bow Subduing Demons". A woman and a child appear in traditional Japanese dress: she carries a long bow with arrows, while the child has a plant-laden pack on its back. The sheet measures 29.5 × 21.3 cm and is printed in ink and colour on paper.
Description
Two figures anchor the layout: a woman in a long-sleeved robe with a scarf and long dark hair, holding a bow and several arrows, and beside her a child in a cap with a pack of plants. Beneath them the ground carries a geometric pattern; behind it a cell-like structure emerges. Tones stay muted, and the impression is sharp and finely detailed. The artist's name can be made out at the lower right.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu is regarded as a pioneer of multicolour woodblock printing (nishiki-e) in the Edo period. The sheet dates from around 1765, when Harunobu was known above all for his images of elegant women and everyday scenes. The title "Bow Subduing Demons" probably points to a mythical or ritual meaning, though this cannot be firmly documented.
Impact
The calm arrangement and muted colours give the print a restrained, elegant air. Crisp contours and delicate details lend it a precise, almost tender aesthetic characteristic of Harunobu's style.
Technique
The work is a woodblock print in ink and colour on paper. The multicolour printing that Harunobu brought to perfection required several blocks, one for each area of colour. Sharp lines and nuanced tonal gradation attest to the high craftsmanship of Edo-period printmaking.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)