Two Young Ladies at the Shore
Original title: Two Young Ladies at the Shore
kurzbeschreibung
Suzuki Harunobu's colour woodblock print 'Two Young Women on the Shore', from around 1768, brings two women in patterned robes to the edge of a body of water. One sits and touches the surface with her hand while the other stands beside her, turned towards her. The sheet is executed in ink and colour on paper.
Description
Two female figures dominate the foreground: one seated with her hand at the water's surface, the second standing and facing her. Their kimonos show floral patterns in blue, red and orange. Behind them rises a plain house with a green roof, surrounded by grass and plants. Wavy lines run through the water; the palette remains mostly earthy with individual accents. The layout feels balanced, the contours clear, the light evenly distributed.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu ranks among the outstanding Japanese woodblock masters of the 18th century and was one of the first to use full-colour printing (nishiki-e). The print was made in the Edo period, an era of cultural flourishing and urban pleasure culture. Harunobu devoted himself mainly to bijin-ga, pictures of women in everyday life, which appealed to the growing city population.
Impact
The balanced arrangement and restrained earth tones create a quiet, contemplative mood. Colourful accents are set by the elegant, patterned garments, drawing the eye to the women. The sheet exudes a harmonious calm characteristic of Harunobu's work.
Technique
The print was made as a woodblock print with ink and colour on paper. Clear lines and flat areas of colour define the Japanese colour woodblock print. The use of multiple colour blocks (nishiki-e) allowed fine gradations in the garments and the landscape.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)