A Girl Writing a Letter
Original title: A Girl Writing a Letter
kurzbeschreibung
Two women in an interior, one of them occupied with a letter — this colour woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu dates from the 18th century. Ink and colour were printed on paper, and an open doorway carries the eye out into a garden.
Description
On the left a woman sits on the floor, her blue-green kimono patterned with flowers spread around her; her eyes are closed and her head tilts upward. To the right a second figure stands in a red-and-white checked obi over a white under-robe, a bird held in her hand, her gaze turned down. A door at the rear opens onto a garden with trees and a pond, two birds flying above it. Blue, green, red, white and grey set the palette, and light falling from the front spreads evenly across the surface.
Context
Harunobu ranks among the defining Japanese woodblock masters of the 18th century. His prints often present women and scenes of everyday life with a delicate sensibility. As a pioneer of multicolour woodblock printing (nishiki-e) he became widely known during the Edo period. Letter writing was a recurring subject in ukiyo-e, offering glimpses into the private lives of women. Such prints were made for a broad urban public and frequently appeared in series.
Impact
The figures' quiet postures and the harmonised colours give off a still, intimate mood. The contrast between interior and garden creates depth and draws the eye into the scene. Crisp contours and a restrained palette lend the sheet an elegant, poetic note.
Technique
Ink and colour were transferred from woodblocks onto paper. This method allowed fine lines and precise details to be reproduced. The use of several colours points to the elaborate nishiki-e technique, which Harunobu brought to its full development.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)