Birds and Narcissus
Original title: Birds and Narcissus
kurzbeschreibung
Two birds glide above flowering narcissi, and this motif shapes the woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu. Worked in ink and colour on paper, the sheet was made in the second half of the eighteenth century.
Description
Above a bed of narcissi with white blossoms, yellow buds and green leaves, two birds trace their paths. The ground appears in a warm yellow tone. Behind it opens a sky in pale pink and white, broken by darker patches that recall clouds or discolouration of the paper. Muted colours and the outlines typical of the woodblock print govern the image.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu ranks among the outstanding figures of Japanese woodblock printing in the Edo period. In the 1760s he introduced multicolour printing (nishiki-e). The sheet with birds and narcissi takes its place in the long tradition of nature depiction in Japanese art. An exact date is missing, but the work is placed within Harunobu's active years.
Impact
The flying birds and the blooming narcissi join into a quiet, contemplative picture. The restrained colours and clear lines produce a harmonious, elegant presence, as is characteristic of Harunobu's style.
Technique
Several woodblocks were used for printing, one for each colour. Harunobu worked with ink and colour on paper. The precisely cut lines and contours testify to the high craftsmanship of the multicolour woodblock print.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)