The Immortal Kume
Original title: The Immortal Kume
kurzbeschreibung
The hero Kume, a figure from Chinese mythology, appears in this woodblock print by Suzuki Harunobu from the 1760s. Harunobu chose the narrow vertical format of hashira-e for the sheet and worked with ink and color on paper.
Description
At the top, a man in dark armor with orange accents surges forward, sword raised to strike, his face ready for combat. Below, a woman in traditional dress leans forward, an object in her hands; her long robe shimmers in shades of orange and gray. The layout is strictly vertical, the figures stacked one above the other. Earth tones dominate the palette, with a few accents in orange and gray. Even light without shadows characterizes the view, as is typical of the woodblock print.
Context
Suzuki Harunobu ranks among the outstanding ukiyo-e artists of the eighteenth century and is regarded as a pioneer of multicolor printing (nishiki-e). In the 1760s, when this sheet was made, he devoted himself mainly to elegant female figures and scenes of everyday life. That a combat scene appears here departs from his usual repertoire and suggests a commission or a particular narrative. The narrow vertical format of hashira-e often served as wall decoration in interiors.
Impact
Between the aggressive combat above and the quietly inclined woman below, a tension arises from the contrast of movements. Clear contours and restrained colors give the print a composed yet dramatic mood. The eye travels along the vertical axis and seeks the narrative connection between the two figures.
Technique
The sheet is executed as a woodblock print in the hashira-e technique, printed with ink and color on paper. Several printing passes brought the colors onto the sheet one after another, with sharp contours characteristic of the ukiyo-e style. Earthy colors and sparing accents testify to the craftsmanship of the color woodblock print.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)