Young Lady Looking through Door at Her Kamuro (Little Servant) who is Asleep on the Floor
Original title: Young Lady Looking through Door at Her Kamuro (Little Servant) who is Asleep on the Floor
kurzbeschreibung
A colour woodblock print on paper by Suzuki Harunobu: a young woman in splendid robes looks through an open door at her little servant, the kamuro, sleeping on the floor. The work is undated and dates from the Edo period.
Description
In the foreground a young woman stands, wrapped in a black coat with gold ornament and a red sash, and gazes through the open door. Her upswept hair is adorned with accessories, and her garment is decorated with floral patterns. Behind, a kamuro, also in traditional dress, rests on the floor. The setting is an interior with wooden beams and a door; on the left a flowering plant extends into the picture. Muted colours prevail, with soft pink and gold, and gentle light enters from outside.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu is among the outstanding woodblock masters of the 18th century and is known for his nishiki-e. He decisively advanced the development of multicolour woodblock printing in Japan. The kamuro, a young servant, appears frequently in scenes of everyday life and the pleasure quarters of the Edo period.
Impact
Stillness and intimacy emanate from this print and draw the viewer into the private incident. Delicate lines and restrained, harmonised colours create an elegant, unobtrusive impression.
Technique
Ink and colour on paper, executed as a woodblock print. Precise lines and clearly defined areas of colour attest to the accuracy of the printing that is characteristic of Harunobu's multicolour works.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)